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 promotes resident satisfaction while ensuring quality food service and nutrition care in accordance with applicable regulations. It provides on-site leadership during vacancies, leaves of absence, and transitions, and may serve as acting Dining Services Director or Dining Department Head. The manager evaluates operations and makes improvements to service, quality, and compliance; develops and coaches team members; and supports menu planning, scratch cooking, hospitality, food safety, sanitation, infection control, and regulatory readiness. The position works closely with community and corporate leadership, residents, families, and other stakeholders, and provides handoff documentation at the end of each assignment. It requires 100% regional travel among the communities and flexibility to adapt to different locations and service needs. Work takes place 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.
- Financial management experience or capability involving food, supplies, and equipment.
- Scheduling and menu-planning skills.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts or hospitality management, or equivalent experience.
- ServSafe or Always Food Safe certification, or ability to obtain certification.
- Certified Dietary Manager certification, or ability to obtain it for skilled nursing/healthcare.
Responsibilities
- Directly manage assigned team members and support their performance, productivity, development, and work quality through direction, feedback, coaching, and performance management.
- Provide on-site dining services leadership during vacancies, leaves of absence, and periods of transition; serve as acting Dining Services Director or Dining Department Head as needed.
- 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, functional objectives, measurements, production and quality systems, resource planning, problem-solving, and change implementation.
- Train and mentor dining 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 per company policy and communicate new 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 community and corporate partners; provide clear handoff documentation and recommendations at the conclusion of assignments.
- Uphold residents’ rights, protect confidential health information, respond to resident concerns and complaints, report suspected abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, and arrange interpreter or auxiliary services when needed.
- Follow food safety and sanitation policies and applicable codes; maintain food preparation and service quality; audit safe food handling; follow illness-related food production restrictions; and establish and maintain cleaning schedules.
- Report structural, equipment, and furniture defects; follow safety procedures; identify and report hazards; observe resident safety needs in care plans; use required safety equipment; and demonstrate fire and disaster preparedness.
- Maintain required attendance and perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Advanced Pay
- Financial Literacy Classes
- Employee Assistance Program offering 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
High school or GED
