Dining Services Director in Montvale, New Jersey at Thrive Senior Living LLC

Dining Services Director

Thrive at Montvale – Montvale, NJ
Full-Time | Leadership Position

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85.000,00 – $110.000,00 per year, based on experience, qualifications, and applicable credentials.

Benefits for eligible employees may include:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off (PTO)
Paid holidays
401(k) retirement plan
Employee assistance and wellness programs
Professional development and training opportunities
Other benefits available in accordance with company plans and policies
Position Overview

Thrive at Montvale is seeking an experienced, energetic, and hospitality-focused Dining Services Director to lead our dining operations and culinary team.

The Dining Services Director is responsible for the overall management of the community's dining program, including food quality, resident satisfaction, menu execution, staffing, sanitation, regulatory compliance, inventory, and financial performance.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong culinary and hospitality experience who understands that dining is an important part of the overall resident experience.

Key Responsibilities
Provide leadership and oversight for all dining and culinary operations within the community.
Lead, supervise, coach, and develop chefs, cooks, servers, dishwashers, and other dining team members.
Recruit, interview, train, schedule, and evaluate dining department employees.
Maintain appropriate staffing levels and ensure adequate coverage for all meals and dining services.
Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality food, presentation, service, and hospitality.
Oversee daily meal preparation and service for breakfast, lunch, dinner, special events, and other community functions.
Monitor resident satisfaction and respond promptly and professionally to dining-related concerns and requests.
Build positive relationships with residents and regularly solicit feedback regarding menus and dining experiences.
Coordinate with residents, families, nursing, and other departments regarding dietary needs, allergies, food preferences, and special accommodations.
Oversee menu planning and ensure appropriate variety, quality, nutrition, and resident preferences are considered.
Ensure special diets and physician-ordered dietary requirements are properly followed.
Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sanitation, food safety, and infection prevention throughout all kitchen and dining areas.
Ensure compliance with applicable state and local health department requirements and community policies.
Maintain readiness for health department inspections, state surveys, and other regulatory reviews.
Oversee food purchasing, receiving, storage, inventory, and proper rotation of food and supplies.
Manage food costs, labor costs, department expenses, and the dining department budget.
Monitor waste and implement appropriate cost-control measures while maintaining quality.
Maintain relationships with food and beverage vendors and address supply or quality concerns as necessary.
Ensure dining equipment is properly maintained and report repair or replacement needs.
Plan and execute special dining events, holiday meals, resident celebrations, and community functions.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and other department leaders to support community events and overall operations.
Conduct regular staff meetings, training, and in-service education.
Ensure employees follow proper food handling, uniform, hygiene, safety, and customer-service standards.
Maintain required department records, logs, schedules, invoices, and documentation.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Previous Dining Director, Food Service Director, Executive Chef, Culinary Director, or similar leadership experience required.
Experience in senior living, assisted living, healthcare, hospitality, restaurant, or institutional dining strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, kitchen operations, and proper food-handling practices.
Experience managing employees, schedules, inventory, purchasing, and department budgets.
Strong leadership and team-development skills.
Excellent customer service and hospitality mindset.
Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to interact professionally and compassionately with residents and families.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
ServSafe certification or equivalent food safety certification preferred.
Ability to work a flexible schedule as necessary to support community operations, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.
What We're Looking For

We are looking for a Dining Services Director who is visible, engaged, and hands-on in the kitchen and dining rooms.

The successful candidate will be passionate about hospitality, take pride in food quality and presentation, and understand the importance of creating an exceptional dining experience for our residents every day.

This position requires a leader who can maintain high standards while building a positive, accountable, and team-oriented culture within the dining department.

Why Join Thrive at Montvale?

At Thrive at Montvale, dining is more than serving meals—it is an important part of our residents' daily experience and quality of life.

We are looking for a leader who can create memorable dining experiences while maintaining excellent standards of food quality, service, safety, and hospitality.

Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Montvale, New Jersey