Culinary Director

River Valley Place of Ottumwa•Ottumwa, IA

About The Position

The Culinary Director is a strategic leader responsible for delivering an exceptional dining experience that reflects Better Living’s “Expect Better” brand promise. The role combines food production and hospitality to create meaningful moments, support resident independence, lead with heart, and contribute to occupancy growth. The Culinary Director leads all dining operations, including menu development, food safety compliance, budget management, team leadership, and resident engagement. The position supports Better Living’s Resident-Led Initiative philosophy and Better Days Memory Care program. The role includes creating a restaurant-style dining experience, engaging residents and families, accommodating individual preferences and dietary needs, and collaborating with Life Enrichment, nursing, care teams, sales, and executive leadership. The Culinary Director oversees culinary operations, regulatory compliance, financial performance, staff development, and dining-related support for tours and marketing events.

Requirements

At least 3 years of culinary leadership experience.
Experience managing kitchen staff and food budgets.
ServSafe certified or able to obtain certification.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends for events.
Ability to stand for extended periods.
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
Exposure to kitchen heat and cleaning chemicals.

Nice To Haves

Culinary leadership experience in senior living, hospitality, healthcare, or restaurants.
Knowledge of therapeutic diets.

Responsibilities

Create a restaurant-style dining experience aligned with Better Living standards.
Build meaningful relationships with residents and families.
Implement Resident-Led Initiatives, including menu input sessions, culinary committees, themed dining events, and resident recipe spotlights.
Accommodate residents’ preferences, allergies, therapeutic diets, and cultural needs.
Partner with Life Enrichment to integrate food into purposeful programming.
Support tours and marketing events to drive occupancy.
Develop and execute seasonal menus in partnership with approved vendors.
Maintain consistency in food presentation, portioning, and quality.
Ensure therapeutic diets are implemented accurately in collaboration with nursing and care teams.
Maintain inventory control systems and track costs.
Oversee kitchen production schedules and staffing coverage.
Lead catering for internal events, marketing functions, and family nights.
Ensure compliance with state assisted living regulations and local health department requirements.
Maintain ServSafe certification or state equivalent.
Ensure documentation of temperature logs, cleaning schedules, food storage compliance, and diet modifications.
Participate in state surveys and respond promptly to deficiencies.
Manage food and kitchen labor budgets and maintain target food cost percentages.
Monitor waste and implement waste-reduction strategies.
Participate in monthly budget reviews with the Executive Director.
Contribute to NOI improvement through operational efficiency.
Recruit, hire, onboard, and train culinary staff.
Promote accountability and heart-first leadership.
Conduct performance reviews and coaching conversations.
Maintain staffing levels aligned with occupancy and census.
Support cross-department collaboration.
Participate in tours when appropriate.
Partner with the Sales Director and Executive Director on special events.
Ensure the dining experience supports closing confidence.
Provide sample menus and culinary storytelling for marketing use.