Director of Culinary Services

Discovery Senior Living Holdings, LLC; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

401(k) match

Career growth

Wellness benefits

EAP

Job summary

TerraBella Senior Living is seeking a Director of Culinary Services – Fine Dining to lead our community's culinary program with a focus on quality, safety, and resident satisfaction. You will guide menu planning, quality control, and team leadership across the dining operation.

This role requires strong cost management, governance of food safety practices, and collaboration with operations to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience in a food service environment.
• Must have completed food safety training.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.
• Proficient organizational skills and deadline discipline.
• Strong computer skills and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements dining policies, plans menus, and adjusts recipes for yield and resident preferences.
• Monitors food quality, temperatures, portion control, and presentation to standards.
• Oversees kitchen staff, schedules, and training; conducts QA audits.
• Manages budgets, expenditures, and vendor relationships for food service.
• Ensures safety, sanitation, and compliance with regulations.

Skills

Food service mgmt

Food safety training

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Computer skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts

Tools

Food service software

Job description

TerraBella Senior Living is looking for a Director of Culinary Services - Fine Dining to join our community ____________.

TerraBella Senior Living proudly serves thousands of residents and families offering a full range of lifestyle and care options including Active Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and short-term Respite. With a foundation rooted in purpose, hospitality, and connection, TerraBella fosters communities where both residents and Team Members thrive.

As part of one of the largest senior living organizations in America, TerraBella communities have earned Great Place to Work® certifications from 2022–2026. At TerraBella, culture, growth, and heart define who we are. We continually aspire and invest in learning and development opportunities that support our team members’ professional growth, ensuring every team member has the tools to build a meaningful and rewarding career.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements food services policies, procedures, and job descriptions. Plans menus and menu cycles according to cultural and regional food preferences, and resident dietary guidelines. Adjusts recipes to appropriate yield.
• Monitors the quality and consistency of the food to include food temperatures, portion control, palatability and attractiveness of food, and implements changes to ensure quality according to established standards.
• Observes workers engaged in preparing, portioning, and garnishing foods to ensure that methods of cooking and garnishing and sizes of portions are as prescribed.
• Cooks and carves meats, and prepares dishes.
• Orders food and chemical supplies for the kitchen; receives and validates all food deliveries against order form.
• Inventories food items monthly.
• Conducts regular Quality Assurance Audits.
• Practices safe and sanitary food handling.
• Practices all safety and loss prevention procedures.
• Negotiates and signs food service agreements with vendors.
• Selects, schedules, and conducts orientation and in‑service educational programs for personnel.
• Monitors monthly expenditures to include explanation of significant variances to ensure compliance with budget.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts program preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience in a food service environment.
• Must have successfully completed food safety training.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficient organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong computer skills.
• Provides leadership by exhibiting confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well.

Why Join Us

Discovery Senior Living Earned Coveted Great Place to Work Certification for 2025-2026!

A large part of what makes Discovery different from other companies in this industry is our willingness to embrace change. At Discovery Senior Living, we are constantly challenging how we are doing things to ensure the lifestyle we are offering our residents is absolutely the greatest value proposition in the marketplace. It’s just as important to us that the environment and culture for our team members are constantly refreshed. In addition, embracing and even encouraging change brings a never‑ending supply of new energy to our business and our culture. That energy translates to other far‑reaching positive impacts on our residents as well as our team members.

Find out what makes working at Discovery unique in the world of senior living. Discover Your Purpose!

OurCulture & Values

So often, what brings people together is deeply rooted in who we are and what we stand for. At Discovery Senior Living, we’re unified by certain, core values, which we call our “Pillars of Excellence.” They make up the fabric of our company, and include TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, HARD WORK and CREATIVITY.

Individually, they are our virtues, and together, they make up a roadmap which helps us foster innovation and success.

Benefits You’ll Enjoy

• competitive pay
• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• life insurance
• disability insurance
• paid time off and holidays
• 401(k) with employer match
• paid training and career growth opportunities
• wellness‑related benefits
• additional support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. EOE D/V

A Note to Applicants

This job description outlines the general nature and level of responsibilities for this role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Qualified individuals with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, as determined on a case‑by‑case basis.

Regulatory Compliance & Background Screening

Discovery Senior Living complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements governing hiring practices, background screening, and workforce eligibility. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of state‑mandated and/or federally required background screenings, which may include criminal history checks, fingerprint‑based screening, Level 2 background screening, registry verification, and other screenings required for healthcare and senior living roles with direct or indirect resident access.

Certain positions may be subject to additional requirements under federal programs, including CMS, Medicare, and Medicaid regulations, as well as state‑specific licensing or regulatory agencies. Screening requirements vary by role and jurisdiction, and candidates must meet all applicable standards as a condition of employment. These measures support regulatory compliance and help maintain a safe, secure environment for residents, families, and team members.

Employment in Floridais contingent upon completion of a Level 2 background screening in accordance with Florida AHCA requirements. Applicants will be required to complete fingerprinting and background screening through the AHCA Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.

Thank you for your interest in TerraBella Senior Living careers. If you have any questions about the position you are applying for, please contact the community directly.