Dining Services Director at Allegro Winter Park

Dining Services Director

Lead with Heart. Cook with Purpose. Create an Experience Residents Look Forward to Every Day.

Great dining is about so much more than what's on the plate. It's the smell of a favorite meal coming from the kitchen, gathering around the table with friends, celebrating special occasions, and having something to genuinely look forward to each day.

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Dining Services Director who understands that dining is an important part of the overall resident experience.

This role is ideal for a culinary leader who loves food, takes pride in presentation and quality, enjoys developing a strong team, and isn't afraid to step into the kitchen and cook alongside them when needed.

The Dining Services Director leads the overall operation of the Dining Services department, including staffing, training, scheduling, food ordering, inventory, menu planning, food preparation, sanitation, budgeting, and service delivery. Most importantly, this leader helps create a dining program where the goal is simple: make dining one of the highlights of our residents' day.

What You'll Do

• Lead, schedule, supervise, train, and develop the Dining Services team while creating a positive, accountable, team-oriented environment.
• Remain hands-on in daily operations and be willing to step into the kitchen and support meal preparation and service when needed.
• Ensure meals are prepared according to approved menus and recipes while maintaining consistency, nutritional value, flavor, quality, and attractive presentation.
• Create a dining experience that feels welcoming, engaging, and resident-focused rather than simply providing meal service.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, service, cleanliness, and hospitality.
• Oversee food ordering, inventory, receiving, storage, preparation, and waste control while remaining mindful of budget and operational needs.
• Make daily job assignments, establish priorities, and ensure appropriate staffing and coverage for Dining Services operations.
• Coach and develop associates, recognize strengths, address performance concerns, and create opportunities for team members to grow.
• Ensure kitchen equipment is properly maintained and all food preparation and dining areas remain clean, safe, organized, and inspection-ready.
• Maintain strict compliance with infection control, foodborne illness prevention, food safety, chemical handling, fire safety, and sanitation requirements.
• Monitor associate timekeeping, review time clock records, and partner with the Business Office Manager to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.
• Submit required new-hire documentation and support the onboarding and training of new Dining Services associates.
• Listen to resident feedback and use it to continually improve food quality, menu offerings, presentation, and the overall dining experience.
• Collaborate with other department leaders to support resident events, celebrations, special programs, and community experiences.
• Provide interactions and service throughout the Community that delight residents, families, prospects, and guests and contribute to an exceptional overall experience.
• Other job duties as assigned. See full job description.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age. State-specific guidelines may apply.
• Minimum of four (4) years of hands-on cooking and menu planning experience, preferably within senior living dining services, hospitality, hotels, or a similar culinary environment.
• Previous proven management or supervisory experience.
• Must have the applicable state-specific Food Manager Certification or be able to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.
• Strong working knowledge of kitchen operations and common commercial kitchen equipment, including grills, steam tables, refrigeration units, food processors, and other food preparation equipment.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, proper food storage, infection prevention, and safe kitchen operations.
• Ability and willingness to remain hands-on with food preparation and kitchen operations while also successfully managing the overall department.
• Must have a positive Criminal Background Screening.
• The Community is a drug-free workplace; associates are subject to adherence to the Company Drug Free Workplace policy.
• If assigned driving responsibilities, the associate must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in accordance with Company Fleet Safety standards. Driving duties are incidental to the primary responsibilities of this position and may be assigned based on business needs.
• MVR reviews will be conducted at hire and periodically thereafter in accordance with Company policy. Associates who do not meet or maintain Company driving standards may be ineligible to perform driving duties; however, such determination will not automatically affect continued employment where driving is not an essential function.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical or culinary school degree preferred.
• Food Manager Certification preferred.
• Previous experience leading a dining operation within senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or a similar resident/customer-focused environment.
• Experience with menu planning, food ordering, inventory management, budgeting, cost control, and waste reduction.
• Experience hiring, training, coaching, scheduling, and developing culinary and dining associates.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for more than someone who can manage a kitchen.

We want a culinary leader who takes ownership of the entire dining experience. Someone who notices when a plate doesn't look right, knows their residents' preferences, develops their team instead of simply directing them, keeps a clean and organized kitchen, understands the numbers behind the operation, and still loves the actual craft of cooking.

You should be equally comfortable leading from the kitchen, managing the business side of Dining Services, and connecting with residents in the dining room.

Because when you're serving seniors, a meal isn't just breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's comfort. It's routine. It's conversation. It's connection.

And we want a Dining Services Director who understands how important that is.