Dining Director

Job Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Dining Director to lead our culinary team at Peregrine Senior Living. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the overall operation of the Dining Service Department, ensuring a positive and welcoming environment for our residents.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise and develop a team of culinary staff to provide exceptional dining experiences for residents.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the annual dining budget.
• Ensure the dining department operates within budget and adheres to Peregrine Senior Living policies and procedures.
• Order and maintain adequate dining department supplies and food levels.
• Complete quality management reviews to ensure compliance with state regulations and Peregrine Senior Living policies.
• Act as a liaison for all aspects related to dining services within the community.
• Communicate effectively with residents, families, department heads, and the Executive Director as needed.
• Work with the care department to promote and protect resident rights and well-being.
• Support the move-in process and provide a positive image of Peregrine Senior Living.
• Track attendance and enforce disciplinary action as necessary.
• Encourage resident participation in community activities and orient new residents to life in the community.
• Provide exceptional culinary customer service and promote a restaurant-style dining atmosphere.
• Plan community and individual resident menus, ensuring meals are prepared according to menu and recipes.
• Ensure food is prepared in a nutritional, appetizing fashion, and presented in an attractive manner.
• Supervise and inspect food storage, transportation, and storage of food and supplies.
• Maintain the highest safety and sanitary conditions in the dining areas.
• Plan and implement sanitation schedules for all dining staff.
• Estimate daily or weekly needs of food and supplies for the community.
• Utilize safety precautions with equipment and sanitation procedures.
• Regularly visit residents in the dining room to observe and evaluate meal service quality.
• Accept and respect resident input regarding meal preparation and presentation.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) preferred.
• Five or more years of culinary experience in the hospitality industry required.
• Food handlers permit as required by state law and/or Peregrine Senior Living standards.
• Active ServSafe certification preferred.
• Knowledge of food handling, preparation, cooking, and service required.
• Able to read and follow recipes and printed production guides, cleaning schedules, and logs.
• Experience and knowledge of senior living, including assisted living, memory care, and enhanced assisted living preferred.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to quickly master related regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Must have compassion for and desire to work with the elderly.
• Experience in recruiting, training, and managing people is preferred.
• Working knowledge of computers, including Excel, Word, and MS Office preferred.

Leadership:

• Through example, inspire and motivate performance of subordinates and promote honesty, trust, and respect.
• Coach and evaluate staff performance as necessary to maintain high standards of quality care, financial accountability, and business growth.
• Train all dining department staff in day-to-day kitchen operations.
• Evaluate the performance and effectively recommend changes to terms and conditions of employment for all dining department staff.
• Interview and hire all community dining department staff.
• Use critical thinking and sound judgment on decisions that impact residents, associates, and general operation of the community.
• Support community staff in infection control procedures, including the COVID-19 and bloodborne pathogen exposure plan.
• Ability to assess and understand customers' expectations, needs, and circumstances.
• Ability to speak intelligently about Peregrine Senior Living and assisted living programs.
• Assist the Executive Director with prompt follow-up and resolution of customer service complaints and inquiries.
• Assist and participate in the community's orientation program and ongoing inservice program.
• Participate in the developing, reviewing, and implementing of policies concerning dining and quality of life.
• Assist the community with sales and marketing outreach activities, including routine visits to physicians, discharge planners, and other referral sources.

Physical/Sensory Requirements:

• Ability to exert 20-50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Additional physical demands include standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting, and generally all movement associated with dining services and maintaining a kitchen.
• Must be in full compliance with all regulatory required vaccinations, including COVID-19, MMR, etc.

OSHA Classifications:

• Potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens.