Lead Cook

The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great benefits

National and regional support

Growth opportunities

Exceptional company culture

Job summary

Watermark Retirement Communities in Oceanside, CA seeks a Dining Services Manager to lead food service operations for our senior living community. You will train and mentor dining staff, oversee both back-of-house and front-of-house activities, and uphold high resident satisfaction in a fine-tuned operation.

We value experience in full-service dining, strong supervision, and excellent customer service. This role offers strong benefits, regional support, and growth within a growing senior housing

Qualifications

• 3-5 years prior experience as a line cook in a full-service restaurant, preferred.
• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must have knowledge of proper culinary techniques and food sanitation and safety
• Must have the ability to supervise and coordinate with others
• Outstanding customer service experience
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Responsibilities

• Train and mentor the dining services talent.
• Run a smooth back of the house and front of the house and keep resident satisfaction high.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Organizational skills

Culinary techniques

Food sanitation

Training & mentoring

Supervision

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

At Watermark Retirement Communities, we've been a trusted leader in senior living for over 30 years, driven by our commitment to building an innovative, compassionate culture for both residents and associates. When you step into one of our communities, you’ll immediately feel the difference—a genuine atmosphere of connection, care, and belonging. We call it "Creating Ripples."

Join our forward-thinking team where every day you’re empowered to slow down, find purpose in each moment, and make meaningful impacts that ripple across lives. At Watermark, we celebrate life, stories, and the incredible human connections that make us stronger together. We take pride in our talented, compassionate associates and value the unique contributions each person brings. Be part of something bigger — help us shape culture, one story at a time.

We are looking for the individual that believes the dining experience for our residents would nourish their souls! For us this is about running a finely tuned operation that would be the envy of any 5-star restaurant. In this position you will train and mentor the dining services talent, run a smooth back of the house and front of the house and keep resident satisfaction high.

If you have experience in food service management, you are looking for a career opportunity in an industry that provides amazing services for our senior population then we would like to meet you!

What you will need for this position:

• 3-5 years prior experience as a line cook in a full service restaurant, preferred
• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must have knowledge of proper culinary techniques and food sanitation and safety
• Must have the ability to supervise and coordinate with others
• Outstanding customer service experience
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

What you can expect from us:

• Great benefits
• Excellent national and regional support
• Great opportunity to grow with a growing senior housing company
• An extraordinary company culture

Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/LBGTQ – proudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations.