Lead Culinary Services Director

Sonida Senior Living; Arlington (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonida Senior Living seeks a Lead Culinary Service Director to oversee community dining operations across their territory. You will lead the dining services team, ensure compliance with state codes and company policies, and drive improvements in menu planning, inventory, and staff development.

The role requires travel across communities (up to 30%), onboarding of new Dining Directors, and regular coordination with corporate and regional leadership to maintain high standards and resident

Qualifications

• 10+ years as a Dining Director in senior housing.
• Current ServeSafe Certification.
• High school diploma required; college credits/degree preferred or state experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Lead community dining operations across territory and ensure compliance with policies.
• Oversee dining services team; provide training, coaching and evaluations.
• Develop and implement action plans from surveys and audits.
• Manage budget and prepare regular reports.
• Recruit and onboard dining staff; ensure background checks and licenses.
• Coordinate menu planning, inventory, equipment, and cleaning procedures.
• Ensure residents' needs are met per service plans; maintain quality standards.
• Travel as needed (up to 30%); communicate with corporate, regional and community staff.

Skills

Dining leadership

Staff training

Budget management

Communication

Team collaboration

On-call availability

Education

High school diploma

ServeSafe Certification

Job description

About Sonida Senior Living

Sonida Senior Living is one of the nation’s leading operators of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities for senior adults. The Company operates 165 communities that are home to nearly 12,000 residents across 35 states, providing comfortable, safe, affordable communities where residents can form friendships, enjoy new experiences and receive personalized care from dedicated team members who treat them like family.

About Sonida Senior Living

Sonida Senior Living is one of the nation’s leading operators of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities for senior adults. The Company operates 165 communities that are home to nearly 12,000 residents across 35 states, providing comfortable, safe, affordable communities where residents can form friendships, enjoy new experiences and receive personalized care from dedicated team members who treat them like family.

Job Responsibilities

The Lead Culinary Service Director will provide leadership to the communities within their territory, supporting key culinary initiatives. This position serves to ensure the community dining operations remain stable and is expected to have an immediate positive impact on the community. Responsible for day-to-day operations of the Community, and the protection of Community assets. Demonstrates knowledge of and assures compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Oversight of the Community dining services team. Promotes the Company’s mission statement. Supports other community dining programs with training, coaching, quality assurance visits and ongoing mentoring. In addition to the job description for the Dining Service Director, also plans, organizes, develops, and directs the onboarding and support of the other Dining Service Directors in their respective region.

Lead Culinary Service Director Responsibilities

• Provide support for the systems and processes required by Sonida Senior Living, including Grove Menus, DSSI, and any approved training platforms
• Ensures standards and quality are met in relation to food and service across the region
• Supports the preparation and implementation of action plans as needed based on state survey, resident survey or other identified opportunities.
• Maintains a high level of compliance, quality, and expertise in home community as to ensure “showcase” or model program
• Leads innovation for community and region
• Must be able to operate remotely from home community by building a strong, independent team able to maintain standards in your absence
• Assist with interviewing candidates and onboarding of new Dining Directors
• Provides direct and indirect supervision of the community dining operations along with training, coaching, counseling, and performance evaluations of all staff members.
• Ensures that the dining services provided meet the needs of the residents in accordance with the developed service plans and that the service plans meet the required state codes and company policies.
• Ensures that menu planning, inventory, equipment management, cleaning procedures and food preparation expectations are met in accordance with established policy and procedure.
• Oversees the recruitment and retention of qualified staff in the dining department, making sure background checks, reference checks and licenses are cleared before the employee is released to work.
• Ensures that dining and support staff has opportunities for ongoing training by way of in-service programs and specific educational workshops to meet the needs of the licensure and the needs of our current and future residents
• Participates in the weekly management meetings, morning stand-up meetings and monthly all staff meetings as applicable.
• Motivates employees through staff appreciation, recognition, and incentive programs. Promotes positive employee relations, addresses concern timely and resolves grievances as quickly as reasonably possible.
• Oversees the community dining budget, providing guidance and training to applicable staff on the maintenance of the overall community budget.
• Monitors dining operations of all communities in territory on a regular basis and prepares quality review audits and monthly variance reports.
• Maintains and facilitates open lines of communication between corporate, regional and community staff
• Prepares daily, weekly, and monthly reports in accordance with company policy or federal/state regulations as assigned by the regional director of operations.
• Maintains outreach and education with the community to ensure positive relationships with community resources
• Works to resolve issues identified by residents, family members, and staff or outside representatives. Keeps the Regional Manager up to date on developments.
• Other duties as assigned urgent to the successful operation of the community
• Shares weekend “Manager-on-Duty” responsibilities as needed in coordination with on-site leadership

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• 10+ years of experience as a Dining Director in senior housing.
• Current ServeSafe Certification
• High school diploma required. College credits or degree preferred or satisfy state experience requirements.
• Meet continuing education requirements and certifications on job classification and position, including state requirements

Skill/ Knowledge Requirements

• Must be able to demonstrate an ability to train / teach across all positions
• Must be able to troubleshoot and create sustainable solutions within dining
• Ability to communicate and work with all levels of the Company’s management staff and Community
• Department Managers and Community Team Members effectively.
• Ability to recognize and communicate problems appropriately.
• Demonstrates team player with a positive attitude; able to work with Community Team Members and Regional Company staff.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and provide information as requested and required.
• Ability to relate to the public, Residents, families, Community Team Members and other professionals appropriately.
• Ability to communicate proficiently in English, verbally and in writing
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet requirements of the job and be on call.
• Maintains car in good working order, current driver’s license in good standing and auto insurance meeting company minimums is current.
• Ability to organize their time, follow-up with the ability to perform job tasks efficiently.
• Ability to teach/train others effectively.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.

Due To The Traveling Nature Of This Position

• All work-related expenses must be tracked (invoices, receipts, etc.)
• COS will be required to submit expenses in a timely manner for reimbursement
• Sonida Senior Living will reimburse the COS for all reasonable travel expenses, approved in advance by the SSL, upon receipt of supporting documentation. Employee must use standardized GPS program (i.e MapQuest) for the purpose of calculating daily travel to and from communities; travel exceeding (over and above) 75 miles/daily will be eligible for reimbursement.

Physical Requirements

• This position will require up to 30% travel.
• Ability to transfer residents as needed in an emergency situation.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally; 35 pounds regularly.
• Routinely requires pushing, pulling, bending, walking, reaching and stooping.