System Director II

Compass Group•Elk Grove, CA

1d•$135,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The System Director of Dining Services provides leadership and operational oversight for dining service across five Senior Living communities, with hospitality and resident experience at the center of every decision. Dining is an important part of residents’ daily lives. It’s a place to connect, celebrate, maintain independence, and feel at home. This leader builds a culture in which residents feel welcomed, recognized, and valued, and valued, and associates take pride in creating enjoyable, personal dining experiences. Reporting to the Regional Director of Operations, the System Director partners with community leadership, Directors of Dining Services, Executive Chefs, and support teams to deliver exceptional food, attentive service, and consistent operational performance. The role combines hands-on hospitality leadership with responsibility for client relationships, team development, financial results, and continuous improvement, while respecting the character and preferences of each community.

Requirements

Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in senior living dining, hospitality, food and beverage, or hotel operations; multi-unit leadership experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success improving hospitality, developing leaders, and managing client relationships.
Strong understanding of dining room service, culinary operations, financial management, and team development.
Ability to balance consistent standards with the needs and personality of individual communities.
Strong communication, listening, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Emotional intelligence, patience, and the ability to respond to concerns with empathy and sound judgment.
A hands-on leadership style and willingness to work alongside community teams.
Ability to travel regularly among assigned communities and participate in meal services, resident meetings, and special events as needed.

Nice To Haves

Degree in hospitality, food service management, business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

Lead Hospitality and the Resident Experience: Establish clear hospitality standards across the communities, maintain a visible presence during meal periods, observe the resident experience firsthand and coach leaders and associates in the moment, conduct regular walkthroughs of dining rooms, cafés, and other service areas to evaluate service, food presentation, cleanliness, comfort, and overall atmosphere, partner with community dining leaders to turn observations and resident feedback into specific action plans, with clear ownership and follow-up, lead consistent service recovery practices so concerns are heard, addressed promptly, and followed through to resolution.
Strengthen Resident and Client Relationships: Build trusted relationships with residents, resident dining committees, community Executive Directors, and Senior Leadership, participate in dining committee meetings and resident forums, communicating openly about menus, service improvements, and dining initiatives, translate client expectations into practical priorities for each community and maintain accountability for results, anticipate concerns, communicate progress, and resolve issues in partnership with the Regional Director of Operations, work with community teams to make dining welcoming for residents, families, and guests, including those who need additional assistance or accommodations.
Develop and Support Community Leaders: Lead, coach, and support Directors of Dining Services and Executive Chefs, develop leaders who are present on the floor, approachable to residents, and actively engaged with their teams, support recruiting, onboarding, retention, succession planning, and leadership development, help teams strengthen communication across dining room and culinary operations, build a respectful workplace where associates feel supported, empowered, and accountable.
Advance Culinary Quality and Resident Engagement: Partner with culinary leaders to deliver flavorful, appealing, consistently prepared meals that reflect resident preferences and offer meaningful choice, coordinate with dietitians and care teams to support nutritional needs, special diets, and appropriate dining accommodations while preserving dignity and enjoyment, guide community calendars of themed dinners, tastings, chef interactions, pop-ups, cultural celebrations, and family dining events, share successful ideas across communities and adapt programs to local interests, support new dining concepts and service improvements, from planning and implementation through evaluation.
Create Inviting Dining Environments: Evaluate dining spaces for comfort, accessibility, ease of navigation, and efficient service, guide improvements to table presentation, signage, menu readability, merchandising, and seasonal décor, partner with community leadership and facilities teams on improvements to dining spaces and equipment.
Ensure Strong Operational and Financial Performance: Oversee community dining performance, including budgets, staffing, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, food costs, and waste reduction, maintain accountability for food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and applicable company and community requirements, review resident satisfaction, service concerns, team engagement, and financial results to identify priorities and measure progress, provide regular updates to regional and client leadership, highlighting accomplishments, unresolved concerns, and next steps.