Dining Service Director

Viva Senior Living; Harleysville (PA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Viva Senior Living is seeking a Dining Service Director to lead all aspects of dietary service for residents, ensuring nutritious meals and strict adherence to health regulations. You will manage staff, control costs, and maintain emergency preparedness while upholding resident rights and dignity.

The role requires strong teamwork, attention to safety, and the ability to implement menus and dietary plans in coordination with clinical leadership and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Strong patient-centric approach with compassion and dignity toward residents.
• Ability to collaborate with peers and adapt to emergency situations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve nutritious meals to residents in a safe sanitary manner per Public Health Regulations.
• Prepare food for regular and therapeutic diets according to plans and doctors’ orders.
• Ensure correct food quantities and timing per established schedules.
• Maintain costs within budgeted parameters.
• Use proper tasting techniques to ensure quality and palatability.
• Record food temperatures and report equipment issues to management.
• Develop inventory controls and procure food, supplies, and equipment as needed.
• Ensure a 72-hour emergency food and water supply per state regulations.
• Supervise dietary staff and participate in performance evaluations.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident care information and adhere to policies.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

• The essential functions of the job for the Dining Service Director requires, and may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of Viva Senior Living to include, but are not limited to the following:
• Comply with standards of business conduct in accordance with federal, state, and local health and regulatory standards and guidelines, as applicable.
• Must possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or a GED.
• Must be able to work well with peers in a congenial work environment, and above all, maintain the utmost compassion and dignity to the residents and adhere to the Resident Bill of Rights.
• In exigent circumstances, the employee may be subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, temporary staffing shortages, etc.).
• Must adhere to Viva Senior Living’s attendance policies and follow the terms and conditions of employment as set forth in the Employee Handbook.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Must maintain the highest standards in caring and servicing the needs of the residents and residents' family members and loved ones.
• Must adhere to all facility policies and procedures.

DEPARTMENT:

REPORTS TO:

POSITION SUMMARY:

• The essential functions of the job for the Dining Service Director requires, and may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of Viva Senior Living to include, but are not limited to the following:
• Comply with standards of business conduct in accordance with federal, state, and local health and regulatory standards and guidelines, as applicable.
• Must possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or a GED.
• Must be able to work well with peers in a congenial work environment, and above all, maintain the utmost compassion and dignity to the residents and adhere to the Resident Bill of Rights.
• In exigent circumstances, the employee may be subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, temporary staffing shortages, etc.).
• Must adhere to Viva Senior Living’s attendance policies and follow the terms and conditions of employment as set forth in the Employee Handbook.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Must maintain the highest standards in caring and servicing the needs of the residents and residents' family members and loved ones.
• Must adhere to all facility policies and procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Prepare and serve nutritious meals to our residents in a safe sanitary manner in accordance with Public Health Regulations, and in compliance with the Sanitation Code.
• Prepare food for regular and therapeutic diets according to the planned menu and written doctors’ orders.
• Ensure that the proper quantity of food is prepared and in accordance with established time schedules.
• Prepare food for special events as instructed by the Executive Director.
• Maintain costs within budgeted parameters.
• Use proper techniques to taste prepared food ensuring quality taste and palatability prior to service.
• Maintain the proper temperature of food during preparation and service. Record temperatures of food according to established policy.
• Report all hazardous and malfunctioning equipment to the Executive Director.
• Make recommendations to the Regional Dining Director regarding improvements in recipes, menus, productions and service of food, equipment, etc. to enhance the quality of the food service.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars and in-services, to keep abreast of current changes in the health care field, as well as maintain a professional status.
• Assist in scheduling the department’s working hours, personnel, work assignments, etc. to maintain quality resident care.
• Routinely inspect the dietary area and practices for compliance with current applicable regulations and as requested by the Executive Director and Regional Dining Director.
• Develop and utilize comprehensive inventory control procedures.
• Purchase food, supplies, and equipment, as required to meet the needs of the department.
• Ensure that a stock of staple/non-staple food, supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained at adequate levels at all times to perform departmental functions.
• Ensure that there is always a 72-hour emergency food and drinking water supply per the state regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent resident care information to ensure resident rights are protected.
• Supervise and manage schedules and tasks of all dietary service associates.
• Responsible for performance evaluations of dietary service associates.
• Arrive to your workstation at the scheduled time.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Ensures that residents and families receive the highest quality of service in a caring and compassionate atmosphere which recognizes the individuals’ needs and rights.
• Report any occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with facility policy.
• Report work-related injuries and illnesses immediately to your supervisor.
• As a condition of employment, complete all assigned training and skills of competency.
• Participate in all life safety and emergency drills and training.
• Fulfill responsibilities as assigned during implementation or activation of the facility’s emergency plan.
• Assists with evacuation of residents in an emergency.
• Maintain confidentiality of Protected Health Information, including verbal, written, and electronic communications.
• Report non-compliance with policies, procedures, regulations, or breaches in confidentiality to appropriate personnel.
• Protect residents from abuse and cooperate with all investigations.
• Report any allegations of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, exploitation, or mistreatment of residents to supervisor and/or administrator.
• Report any retaliation or discrimination to the Regional Business Office Manager and the VP of Human Resources.
• Fulfill individual responsibility to report any suspicion of a crime to law enforcement and the state agency.
• Must adhere to scheduled shifts assigned by the Executive Director.

ANNUAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:

• Must provide annual verification of a negative TB skin test.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which include medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, agitated residents
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.