Dining Services Director

Virginia Beach, VA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Part-time

Work Schedule

Flexible

Weekend Shifts

Benefits

401k

Fulltime benefits

Part-time Benefits

Training

Development

Career laddering

great work-life balance

flexible scheduling

Job Description

Harmony Square is a reputable assisted living community located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, committed to providing exceptional care and support to its residents. The community prides itself on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that emphasizes individualized care, dignity, and respect for each resident. Harmony Square has earned a strong reputation for its dedicated staff, innovative programs, and a comfortable living environment that promotes well-being and quality of life. The community prioritizes maintaining high standards in all areas, including dining services, which play a critical role in residents' health and happiness. Harmony Square offers a full benefits package for both full-time and part-time staff, including 401k benefits, flexible scheduling options, and opportunities for training and career development. This ensures employees have the support they need to thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to the community's success.

The Dining Services Director (DSD) at Harmony Square is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing all aspects of food service within the community. This role involves managing the entire dining services department, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating the dining services team to ensure a high standard of food quality, safety, and service for residents, associates, and guests. The DSD ensures the dining environment meets all cleanliness and sanitation standards, maintaining kitchen, dining, and storage areas as well as equipment in proper working order. A key responsibility is developing and maintaining knowledge of current health laws and regulations to guarantee full compliance with city, county, and state codes.

The Dining Services Director also plays a vital role in menu planning, ensuring residents' dietary needs are met with nutritious meals prepared and served according to strict sanitation procedures. A balance of operational duties such as ordering supplies, managing inventory, and controlling food portions, alongside strategic responsibilities like budget management and staff training, define the role. The DSD also coordinates with residents and staff to tailor menus and food offerings to meet special dietary requirements, particularly for residents in Harmony Square's specialized care areas. The position requires excellent customer service skills and the ability to interact respectfully and effectively with residents, visitors, and staff. The DSD fosters a collaborative environment by leading food committee meetings and assisting with marketing and educational functions for dining services staff. Flexibility in scheduling, including availability on weekends and holidays, is essential for this role. Harmony Square offers a supportive work environment with opportunities for professional growth, making this an excellent opportunity for a qualified and committed professional to make a meaningful difference in senior care dining services.

Job Requirements

Must possess a Food Service Manager Certificate and/or meet all regulatory requirements necessary to hold a position as Food Service Manager
Must have a working knowledge of ordering, storing, preparation and serving in a food service environment, preferably in senior care
Must be a high school graduate
Must have experience in dining services with management/leadership experience
Must be ServSafe Certified
Must possess strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate effectively with residents, visitors, staff, and management team
Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule including weekends and holidays
Must have good leadership and supervisory skills
Must have knowledge and understanding of nutritional needs and challenges of assisted living residents
Must be able to sit, stand, bend, and walk intermittently during the work day
Must be able to lift 50 lbs on a regular basis, or at least eight times a shift, with the ability to carry heavy objects up to 20 feet
Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task
Must maintain a neat and clean public appearance presentation

Job Qualifications

Must possess a Food Service Manager Certificate and/or meet all regulatory requirements necessary to hold a position as Food Service Manager
Must have a working knowledge of ordering, storing, preparation and serving in a food service environment, preferably in senior care
Must have experience in dining services with management/leadership experience
Must be ServSafe Certified
Must possess strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate effectively with residents, visitors, staff, and management team
Must have good leadership and supervisory skills
Must have knowledge and understanding of nutritional needs and challenges of assisted living residents
Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task

Job Duties

Develops and maintains a working knowledge of all policies and procedures pertaining to the position, the department, and the personnel
Must maintain a knowledge of current and updated health laws and regulations pertaining to city/county and state codes
Directs and assists in the preparation and serving of meals to residents, associates, and guests
Hires, trains, and supervises dining services staff to ensure proper preparation of food in compliance with policies and to ensure proper storage and handling of raw food and supplies
Prepares monthly menus suitable to the dietary needs of the residents
Ensures the menus are followed and food is prepared and served in accordance with proper sanitation procedures and standards
Ensures that meals are served on schedule and that there is no more than a fourteen (14) hour span between the end of the evening meal and the beginning of breakfast
Ensures an evening snack of nutritional value is available to residents who desire the same
Maintains copies of menus, as served for at least three (3) months
Ensures that the food service area and all equipment exceeds sanitation requirements set forth by federal, state and local health regulations and meets the community standards
Orders all raw food, supplies and equipment through approved vendors and keeps an accurate inventory
Able to maintain quality standards and stay within budget for food, supplies, and labor hours
Understands personnel policies and manages the food service department accordingly
Controls food portions served and observes amounts consumed
Prepares and posts menus in the kitchen
Develops and maintains a preventative maintenance program for dining services equipment with the assistance of the Maintenance Supervisor
Attends all required staff meetings and in-services
Meets and visits with all new residents within four (4) days of move-in
Will become familiar with specific requests and diets of each resident
Must be alert to changes in diet orders or resident abilities as well as likes and dislikes
Provides excellent customer service when interacting with residents, visitors, and staff
Follows confidentiality policies regarding release of resident information
Recognizes the special dietary needs of residents living in Harmony Square (HS). Trains staff to identify these needs as well. Ensures food offerings on HS are appropriate to meet resident needs
Conducts monthly food committee meeting with resident representatives
Plans, organizes, assists and supervises dining services to assist with marketing functions
Sets up and conducts in-service educational training for dining services staff
May supervise and conduct training sessions for other staff members as assigned