Dining Services Director - Senior Living

Foundry Commercial•Kinston, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Spring Arbor of Kinston is looking for an experienced Dining Services Director to take full ownership of our culinary program — from menu to plate to the smiles around the table. This isn't just food service. It's hospitality, leadership, and the chance to create an experience our residents genuinely look forward to, every single day. If you're a hands-on leader who knows how to run a kitchen, develop a team, and deliver high-quality meals with heart, we want to talk to you. The primary responsibility of the Dining Services Director is to prepare healthy, appetizing meals, and manage the operation of the Dining Services (DS) department, to include staffing, food ordering, preparation, menu planning, food delivery, and sanitation. The main objective is to ensure that dining is the highlight of the residents' day.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of supervisory or management experience leading dining services teams, including hiring, coaching, and scheduling
ServSafe Certification required
Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Minimum of four (4) years hands-on cooking and menu planning experience, preferably in senior living dining services or hotel industry and including some proven management experience.
Must have state specific Food Manager Certification or be able to certify within 30 days of hire.
Familiar with common kitchen appliances such as grill, steam table, refrigerator units, can openers, food processors, etc.
Must have a positive Criminal Background Screening.
The Community is a drug free workplace; associates are subject to adherence to the Company Drug Free Workplace policy.

Nice To Haves

Experience in senior living, assisted living, memory care, independent living, or healthcare dining services strongly preferred
A passion for hospitality and a genuine commitment to resident care
Technical school degree preferred.
Food Manager certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, schedule, and train a dedicated Dining Services team, including hiring and coaching new and existing staff
Oversee menu planning, food ordering, and meal preparation to ensure every dish is nutritious, appetizing, and beautifully presented
Maintain top-tier food safety, sanitation, and infection control standards across the department
Step in personally when call-outs leave coverage gaps
Serve in the Manager-on-Duty (MOD) rotation every 4–6 weeks and remain available on-call as needed
Create memorable dining experiences that delight residents and families alike
Schedule, supervise, and train Dining Services staff in day-to-day DS operations.
Make job assignments and set priorities.
Oversee and monitor that the staff are properly accounting for hours worked using time clock.
Review the time clock records at least twice weekly and review with the Business Office Manager on a timely basis for payroll submission.
Submit new hire paperwork as required.
Ensure that equipment is maintained, and work areas are clean, safe, and orderly.
Strictly adhere to procedures regarding infection control, food borne illness prevention, harmful chemical handling, fire, safety, and sanitation, promptly addressing any transgression.
Provide services and interactions throughout the Community which delight the residents, prospects, and the greater community with inspired experiences which result in referrals and high occupancy.
Ensure that the menu is followed, and meals are prepared according to the approved recipes.
Ensure food is prepared in a nutritional, appetizing fashion, and presented in an attractive manner.
If applicable, the menu is to be signed off by a registered dietician.
Other job duties as assigned – see full job description.