Senior Living Culinary Director: Elevate Dining Experience

Discovery Village at Stuart; Florida; On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Paid time off

Training & growth

Wellness benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Discovery Village Stuart is seeking a Director of Culinary Services to provide strategic oversight and hands-on leadership of the Culinary Services Department in a senior living community in Stuart, FL.

This role oversees menu planning, staffing, quality, safety, and budget performance. You will lead daily culinary operations, drive resident satisfaction, and ensure compliance with health and safety standards while managing budgets and vendor contracts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of culinary leadership in high-volume, high-standard environments.
• Hands-on experience leading kitchen operations, including cooking and staff oversight.
• Food Safety Certification required.
• Strong knowledge of sanitation, food handling, and loss prevention practices.
• Culinary training or certification preferred.
• Experience with menu engineering, cost controls, and vendor management.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and kitchen management systems.
• Experience in senior living culinary services is a plus—but only if paired with demonstrated high service standards.
• Ability to work in kitchen environments.
• Oversight of food safety audits and inspections.
• Exposure to high-pressure operational deadlines.
• Ability to lift or assist with kitchen operations as needed.
• Participation in rotating on-call schedule or Manager on Duty (MOD) responsibilities required.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily culinary operations while participating in meal preparation and service.
• Plan and execute menus that meet resident dietary guidelines and preferences.
• Monitor food quality, consistency, and presentation; implement improvements as needed.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation, safety, and dietary standards.
• Conduct food safety audits and quality assurance checks.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory control, and vendor contracts.
• Manage budgets, monitor costs, and take corrective action when needed.
• Manage, train, schedule, and evaluate culinary staff.
• Lead orientation and in-service training programs for team members.
• Engage with residents during mealtimes to ensure satisfaction and resolve concerns.
• Collaborate with Executive Director and department heads to align food services with community goals.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Kitchen operations

Food safety

Menu engineering

Cost controls

Vendor management

Leadership

Communication

MS Office

Senior living experience

Team management

On-call/MOD duties

Tools

Kitchen management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Discovery Village Stuart is seeking a Director of Culinary Services to provide strategic oversight and hands-on leadership of the Culinary Services Department in a senior living community in Stuart, FL.

This role oversees menu planning, staffing, quality, safety, and budget performance. You will lead daily culinary operations, drive resident satisfaction, and ensure compliance with health and safety standards while managing budgets and vendor contracts.