Lead Server - Senior Living

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Server

Status: Full-time

Location: Ovation Heartwood; 470 Maxwell Plz, Omaha, NE 68154

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Job Summary

A Lead Server in a senior living community (independent living, assisted living, and memory care) bridges the gap between dining services and resident care. They ensure smooth meal service, maintain high hospitality standards, and support dining staff, all while adapting to the unique cognitive and physical needs of residents. The Lead Server ensures an exceptional, dignified dining experience for residents across all care levels. This role combines hands-on food service, shift supervision, and compassionate resident interaction, ensuring that menus, dietary restrictions, and safety standards are flawlessly executed.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Lead the dining room floor during meal services, coordinating seating, order taking, and food delivery to ensure timely and accurate service.
• Oversee table setups, ensuring a clean, welcoming, and safe environment before, during, and after meals.
• Assist in training and mentoring new dining servers on community standards, hospitality, and resident interaction.
• Collaborate with the Dining Services Director to adjust daily specials and communicate menu changes or resident feedback.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of resident dietary restrictions, allergies, and specific preferences (e.g., thickened liquids, pureed diets).
• Communicate daily with the care staff to ensure residents with changing physical or cognitive needs receive appropriate assistance and adaptive dining equipment.
• Foster a person-centered environment, particularly in memory care, by practicing patience, clear communication, and offering gentle guidance during meals.
• Ensure the dining room, service stations, and equipment strictly adhere to state health codes and community sanitation standards.
• Monitor food temperatures and safe handling practices during service.
• Manage cleaning schedules and side-work duties for the serving staff.
• Dispose of food and waste in accordance with established policies.
• Other duties assigned are appropriate to the position.

Requirements

Requirements and Qualifications

• Knowledge of high standards of food service sanitation and safety at a level normally acquired through on-the-job training.
• Requires maintaining high standards of personal hygiene while working, including frequent hand washing and securing hair away from the face.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to establish effective relationships with department workers and with other departments.
• Skill and ability to learn to operate kitchen equipment.
• Must possess an active CPR/BLS Certification and always maintain certification during employment.
• Requires current Food Handlers card issued by local Health Department.
• Be knowledgeable of dietary practices and procedures, as well as related laws, regulations and pertaining to hospital and nursing home operation.
• Friendly, attentive, and professional demeanor with residents and guests. 

Benefits

At Ovation, we believe caring for others starts with caring for our own teams. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind—so you can focus on making a difference every day.  

Employees are Benefits-eligible at 30+ hours/week. Coverage begins the 1st of the month following hire  

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage – Regence medical plans (PPO & HDHP), Delta Dental (with orthodontia), and VSP vision

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs & work/life balance (Canopy)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Flexible PTO program combining vacation, sick, and holiday time
• Paid Holidays – Six recognized holidays, with premium pay for eligible hourly employees
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Available after 90 days, with discretionary employer match
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Employer contributes up to $600/year for HDHP participants
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Medical, Limited, Dependent Care, and Commuter options
• Supplemental Insurance Options – Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Life & Disability (Sun Life)
• Legal Insurance – Affordable access to legal support for common life needs
• Pet Insurance – Discounted plans through Wishbone
• Employee Discounts – Savings on travel, entertainment, electronics, fitness & more (Tickets at Work)