Traveling Dining Services Manager
About The Position
The Traveling Dining Services Manager provides interim leadership, operational support, and culinary expertise across multiple senior living communities. The role stabilizes dining operations during leadership transitions, supports new openings, implements company dining standards, and drives resident satisfaction while ensuring quality food service and nutrition care in accordance with applicable regulations. The manager leads assigned teams, provides coaching and performance management, and may serve as acting Dining Services Director or Dining Department Head. The position assesses operations and implements improvements to quality, service, and compliance; supports menus that meet nutritional guidelines and resident preferences; and promotes scratch cooking, consistency, and resident-focused hospitality. The role trains and mentors dining staff and new leaders, reinforces food safety and infection-control standards, conducts audits, and works with community leadership on survey readiness and corrective actions. It collaborates with community and corporate teams and provides handoff documentation at the end of assignments. The manager also upholds residents’ rights, protects confidential health information, responds to resident concerns, and reports suspected abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. This position requires 100% regional travel among communities, a flexible schedule, and work in kitchen and dining environments that may involve heat, cold, humidity, wet floors, noise, odors, and fast-paced service demands.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent with combined education and experience.
- At least three years of progressive multiple-unit food service experience in senior living, healthcare, or hospitality.
- Proven leadership and coaching skills in leading dining services teams.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between locations; must submit to annual motor vehicle background checks.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to travel extensively and adapt quickly to new environments.
- Flexible schedule to accommodate meal planning and services across multiple communities.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, hospitality management, or equivalent experience.
- ServSafe or Always Food Safe certification, or ability to obtain it.
- Certified Dietary Manager certification, or ability to obtain it, for skilled nursing or healthcare.
Responsibilities
- Provide on-site dining services leadership during vacancies, leaves of absence, transitions, and new openings; serve as acting Dining Services Director or Dining Department Head as needed.
- Manage assigned team members’ performance, productivity, development, and work quality; provide direction, coaching, feedback, and performance management.
- Assess dining operations and implement improvements to quality, service, and compliance.
- Ensure menus meet nutritional guidelines, resident preferences, and company standards; support scratch cooking, presentation, and consistency across communities.
- Model resident-focused hospitality and service delivery.
- Contribute to organizational and operational strategies, objectives, measurements, systems, and resource planning; resolve problems and implement change.
- Train and mentor dining services team members, including cooks, servers, and leaders; support onboarding and development of newly hired dining leaders.
- Reinforce food safety, sanitation, and infection-control standards; hold small group meetings and communicate policies, procedures, and regulations to staff.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations; conduct food-safety, sanitation, and documentation audits.
- Partner with community leadership on survey readiness and corrective action plans.
- Collaborate with Executive Directors, Regional Leaders, corporate support teams, and other relevant partners; provide handoff documentation and recommendations at assignment conclusion.
- Uphold residents’ rights, protect confidential health information, respond promptly and tactfully to resident concerns, and report allegations of abuse, neglect, or property misappropriation.
- Coordinate interpreter and auxiliary-aid arrangements for residents and responsible parties when needed.
- Follow food-safety and sanitation requirements; maintain food preparation and service quality, conduct safe-food-handling audits, and follow illness-related work restrictions.
- Develop and ensure adherence to cleaning schedules and sanitation practices for kitchens and food storage or service areas.
- Report structural, equipment, and furniture defects; follow safety procedures, identify and report hazards, observe residents’ care-plan safety needs, and use indicated safety equipment.
- Demonstrate job-specific knowledge of fire and disaster preparedness during drills or actual events.
- Manage food, supplies, and equipment finances; handle scheduling and menu planning.
- Maintain attendance and perform other duties assigned by management.
Benefits
- Advanced Pay
- Financial Literacy Classes
- Employee Assistance Program with mental health resources, legal guidance, financial information, and more
- Child Care Discount
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) for eligible locations
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay
- Exclusive Tutera Perks
- Tutera University
- Advancement Opportunities
- Competitive starting wage
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
High school or GED
