Regional Director of Dining Services

Senior Dining Association Inc.; Brentwood (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HutsonWood is seeking a Regional Director of Dining Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across our senior living and healthcare communities. This role partners with clinical leadership to elevate dining operations, hospitality, nutrition, and resident satisfaction.

The ideal candidate will lead multi-site dining teams, develop standards, monitor costs, ensure food safety, and drive menu innovation across communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive multi-site leadership experience in senior living, healthcare dining, hospitality, or related field.
• Experience leading dining operations across multiple locations preferred.
• Experience in senior living, long-term care, skilled nursing, or healthcare nutrition preferred.
• Strong knowledge of hospitality, culinary operations, food safety, sanitation, budgeting, labor management, and customer/resident service.
• RDN credential required for communities where clinical nutrition oversight is a direct responsibility; not required solely for Independent Living settings.
• Current state licensure or certification where required.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional oversight and leadership for dining and culinary operations across assigned communities.
• Establish consistent dining standards, service expectations, operating procedures, and quality benchmarks.
• Coach and develop Dining Services Directors, Executive Chefs, Culinary Managers, and other dining leaders.
• Conduct regular community visits, dining observations, kitchen inspections, and operational reviews.
• Develop and implement improvement plans related to dining quality, hospitality, sanitation, financial performance, and resident satisfaction.
• Lead menu development and ensure quality, variety, nutritional balance, presentation, and resident choice.
• Monitor food quality, food costs, labor costs, purchasing, waste, overtime, and other key performance indicators.
• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, regulatory, and infection prevention requirements.
• Partner with clinical teams regarding nutrition, therapeutic diets, allergies, dietary restrictions, supplements, and other special nutritional needs.
• Help create engaging, restaurant-style dining experiences that promote choice, independence, socialization, and resident satisfaction.
• Support community openings, acquisitions, transitions, renovations, and dining program implementations.
• Develop and deliver training and onboarding programs for dining and culinary teams.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to showcase dining programs to prospective residents and families.

Skills

Leadership

Multi-site leadership

Hospitality operations

Budgeting

Food safety

Coaching & development

RDN credential guidance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or related field

Job description

HutsonWood is seeking a Regional Director of Dining Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across our senior living and healthcare communities. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced dining, culinary, hospitality, or nutrition professional to help shape a consistent, high-quality dining experience across multiple communities.

What You’ll Do

As the Regional Director of Dining Services, you will serve as the organization’s dining subject-matter expert and partner with community and clinical leadership to elevate dining operations, hospitality, nutrition, and resident satisfaction.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide regional oversight and leadership for dining and culinary operations across assigned communities.
• Establish consistent dining standards, service expectations, operating procedures, and quality benchmarks.
• Coach and develop Dining Services Directors, Executive Chefs, Culinary Managers, and other dining leaders.
• Conduct regular community visits, dining observations, kitchen inspections, and operational reviews.
• Develop and implement improvement plans related to dining quality, hospitality, sanitation, financial performance, and resident satisfaction.
• Lead menu development and ensure quality, variety, nutritional balance, presentation, and resident choice.
• Monitor food quality, food costs, labor costs, purchasing, waste, overtime, and other key performance indicators.
• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, regulatory, and infection prevention requirements.
• Partner with clinical teams regarding nutrition, therapeutic diets, allergies, dietary restrictions, supplements, and other special nutritional needs.
• Help create engaging, restaurant-style dining experiences that promote choice, independence, socialization, and resident satisfaction.
• Support community openings, acquisitions, transitions, renovations, and dining program implementations.
• Develop and deliver training and onboarding programs for dining and culinary teams.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to showcase dining programs to prospective residents and families.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader who combines strong operational expertise with a passion for hospitality and creating exceptional dining experiences.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive multi-site leadership experience in senior living, healthcare dining, hospitality, restaurant operations, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading dining or culinary operations across multiple locations strongly preferred.
• Experience in senior living, long-term care, skilled nursing, or healthcare nutrition strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of hospitality, culinary operations, food safety, sanitation, budgeting, labor management, and customer/resident service.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and support dining leadership teams.
• RDN credential required for communities where clinical nutrition oversight is a direct responsibility; not required solely for Independent Living settings.
• Current state licensure or certification where required.

Why This Role Matters

At HutsonWood, dining is about more than meals—it is an important part of the resident experience. You will have the opportunity to influence dining programs across multiple communities while helping teams deliver food, service, and hospitality that residents are proud to experience.

Our culture is built around hospitality, respect, accountability, attention to detail, and making residents, team members, and guests feel valued.

Physical & Travel Requirements:

This position requires regular travel to assigned communities, including occasional overnight travel. The role involves extended periods of walking and standing, as well as conducting community and kitchen observations. The position may require lifting up to 25 pounds and performing activities such as bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, twisting, and climbing.

Join Our Team

If you are an experienced dining or hospitality leader looking for an opportunity to make an impact across multiple senior living communities, we’d love to hear from you!