Dining Manager

Santa Marta Retirement; Olathe (KS); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Marta Retirement seeks a hands-on Dining Services Manager to lead front-of-house teams and ensure welcoming dining experiences for residents. You will oversee daily operations, coach staff, manage budgets, and partner with culinary leadership to maintain hospitality standards.

Responsibilities include training, scheduling, resident relations, safety compliance, and ensuring service excellence during meals while supporting kitchen and dietary teams as needed.

Qualifications

• Two years of management experience in dining services or hospitality.
• Completion of a food-safety training program.
• Strong service-focused leadership and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with residents, families, and coworkers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and internet.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to operate office and kitchen equipment safely.

Responsibilities

• Lead, train, coach, and support front-of-house associates.
• Coordinate daily workflow, approve time-off requests, assist with hiring and orientation, conduct performance evaluations.
• Remain visible and engaged during meal service, connect with residents, and respond promptly when service needs arise.
• Help ensure each dining area is clean, welcoming, well maintained, and ready for service.
• Provide oversight of kitchen staff and dietary staff when senior chefs are unavailable.
• Plan, lead, and participate in in-service training programs that strengthen service, safety, and teamwork.
• Build strong relationships with residents, families, associates, vendors, department leaders, and regulatory partners.
• Support department expense controls and operate within budget guidelines.
• Follow safety and loss-prevention practices and model community standards.
• Participate in the Manager on Duty program and assist with other reasonable responsibilities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer service

Problem solving

Time management

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

POS system

Menu/recipe software

Calendar software

Job description

Make Every Meal Feel Like Hospitality

We are seeking a hands-on Dining Services Manager who enjoys developing a team, building relationships with residents, and creating a welcoming dining experience. In this role, you will help lead the day-to-day operations of the Dining Services Department and ensure our hospitality and service standards are consistently met or exceeded.

You will primarily lead the front-of-house team, including servers, bartenders, hosts, bussers, and expediters. You will also provide operational oversight for kitchen or dietary associates when the Executive Chef, Sous Chef, or Certified Dietary Manager is unavailable.

What You Will Do

• Lead, train, coach, and support front-of-house associates while creating a positive and accountable team environment.
• Coordinate daily workflow, approve time-off requests, assist with hiring and orientation, conduct performance evaluations, and address performance concerns in accordance with community guidelines.
• Remain visible and engaged during meal service, connect with residents, and respond promptly when service needs arise.
• Help ensure each dining area is clean, welcoming, well maintained, and ready for service.
• Provide oversight of kitchen staff when the Executive Chef or Sous Chef is unavailable and dietary staff when the Certified Dietary Manager is unavailable.
• Plan, lead, and participate in in-service training programs that strengthen service, safety, and teamwork.
• Build strong working relationships with residents, families, associates, vendors, department leaders, and regulatory partners.
• Support department expense controls and operate within established budget guidelines.
• Follow safety and loss-prevention practices and model community standards through your daily leadership.
• Participate in the Manager on Duty program and assist with other reasonable responsibilities as needed.

Our Mission

We are a Catholic senior living community committed to serving residents with dignity, compassion, and hospitality. The Dining Services Manager is expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the teachings and values of the Church.

What We Are Looking For

• At least two years of management experience in dining services, hospitality, food service, or a related setting.
• Successful completion of a food-safety training program.
• A positive, service-focused leadership style with the ability to coach associates and solve problems effectively.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate respectfully with residents, families, guests, and coworkers.
• Comfort using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, the internet, and a point-of-sale system.
• Ability to learn and use software for menus, recipes, meal tracking, calendars, and signage.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to operate a car or truck as needed.
• Ability to operate standard office and kitchen equipment safely.

Schedule and Work Environment

This is a hands-on leadership position with a flexible schedule. The Dining Services Manager is primarily responsible for closing the department each night, so regular evening availability is required. Longer or less predictable hours may occasionally be necessary based on department needs.

• Prolonged periods of standing and working in a kitchen and dining environment.
• Regular exposure to heat, steam, and cold associated with kitchen operations.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds at times.