Director of Culinary Services (Senior Living)

Director of Culinary Services

Discovery Management Group leads one of the nation's most purpose-driven and people-centered senior living organizations, managing and enhancing senior living communities across the United States. With a focus on operational excellence, lifestyle personalization, and culture-driven leadership, we proudly serve residents and families with more than 15,000 units nationwide and growing.

As part of one of the largest senior living families in the U.S., our communities have earned Great Place to Work certifications from 20222027. At Discovery Management Group, purpose guides our work, culture fuels our success, and growth defines our future. We continually aspire and invest in learning and development opportunities that support our team members' professional growth, ensuring every team member has the tools to build a meaningful and rewarding career.

As Director of Culinary Services, you'll play an essential role in enriching the lives of seniors, creating meaningful connections, and making a difference every single day.

Your role includes providing both strategic oversight and hands-on leadership of the Culinary Services Department. This includes responsibility for menu planning, staffing, food quality, safety, and budget performance. You'll play a vital role in resident satisfaction by creating memorable dining experiences while ensuring operational excellence.

Position highlights:

• Status: FULL TIME
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, primarily 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., with one Manager on Duty weekend approximately once per month and operational flexibility based on community needs
• Location: Fort Myers, FL (Fully On-site)
• Rate of Pay: $70k-$75k + 10% Annual Bonus Performance
• Travel: 0%

Why you'll love this community:

Welcome to Discovery Village The Forum, where every day feels like a vacation! Senior living in Fort Myers, FL, combines resort-style amenities with compassionate support in a warm, welcoming environment. Residents enjoy award-winning lifestyle programs, chef-prepared dining, and an abundance of amenities, including poolside cabanas, Bailey's Bar and Bistro, and Silver Cinema.

As one of the premier senior living communities in Fort Myers, FL, we proudly offer Active Independent Living, Assisted Living and SHINE Memory Care within a vibrant campus designed for connection, comfort, and carefree living.

What you'll do:

• Lead daily culinary operations while participating in meal preparation and service
• Plan and execute menus that meet resident dietary guidelines and preferences
• Monitor food quality, consistency, and presentation; implement improvements as needed
• Ensure compliance with sanitation, safety, and dietary standards
• Conduct food safety audits and quality assurance checks
• Oversee purchasing, inventory control, and vendor contracts
• Manage budgets, monitor costs, and take corrective action when needed
• Manage, recruit, train, schedule, and evaluate culinary staff
• Lead orientation and in-service training programs for team members
• Engage with residents during mealtimes to ensure satisfaction and resolve concerns
• Collaborate with Executive Director and department heads to align food services with community goals

Qualifications:

• Minimum three years of culinary leadership experience required
• At least one year of senior living experience required
• ServSafe Certification required
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Ability to pass a Level II background screening required
• Demonstrate strong people leadership with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop high-performing teams preferred.
• Positive communication style with the ability to build respectful and collaborative working relationships preferred.
• High level of accountability balanced with professionalism, fairness, and respect for others preferred.
• Proven ability to build, engage, and retain effective teams preferred.
• Willingness to work alongside staff during staffing shortages or periods of increased operational demand, leading by example, preferred.

Why join us:

Discovery Senior Living earned coveted Great Place to Work Certification for 2025-2027! A large part of what makes Discovery different from other companies in this industry is our willingness to embrace change. At Discovery Senior Living, we are constantly challenging how we are doing things to ensure the lifestyle we are offering our residents is absolutely the greatest value proposition in the marketplace. It's just as important to us that the environment and culture for our team members are constantly refreshed. In addition, embracing and even encouraging change brings a never-ending supply of new energy to our business and our culture. That energy translates to other far-reaching positive impacts on our residents as well as our team members.

Find out what makes working at Discovery unique in the world of senior living. Discover Your Purpose!

Our culture & values:

So often, what brings people together is deeply rooted in who we are and what we stand for. And at Discovery Senior Living, we're unified by certain, core values, which we call our "Pillars of Excellence." They make up the fabric of our company, and include TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, HARD WORK and CREATIVITY.

Individually, they are our virtues, and together, they make up a roadmap which helps us foster innovation and success.

Benefits you'll enjoy:

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive pay, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid time off and holidays, a 401(k) with employer match, paid training and career growth opportunities, wellness-related benefits, and additional support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Equal opportunity employer:

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. EOE D/V

A note to applicants:

This job description outlines the general nature and level of responsibilities for this role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Qualified individuals with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Agency policy:

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies. Please refrain from contacting hiring managers directly.

Employment scam warning:

We only post jobs on our official careers site and accept applications through that platform. We do not conduct interviews via text or social media or ask for personal or banking information.

Regulatory compliance & background screening:

Discovery Senior Living complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements governing hiring practices, background screening, and workforce eligibility. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of state-mandated and/or federally required background screenings, which may include criminal history checks, fingerprint-based screening, Level 2 background screening, registry verification, and other screenings required for healthcare and senior living roles with direct or indirect resident access.

Certain positions may be subject to additional requirements under federal programs, including CMS, Medicare, and Medicaid regulations, as well as state-specific licensing or regulatory agencies. Screening requirements vary by role and jurisdiction, and candidates must meet all applicable standards as a condition of employment. These measures support regulatory compliance and help maintain a safe, secure environment for residents, families, and team members.

Employment in Florida is contingent upon completion of a Level 2 background screening in accordance with Florida AHCA requirements. Applicants will be required to complete fingerprinting and background screening through the AHCA Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit: