Director of Nourishment

Job Description

Job Description

About Enso Village
Enso Village is a Zen-inspired community with a focus on mindful aging, the joys of nature, sustainability and contemplative life and care for adults 60+. Enso Village is a collaboration between the Kendal Corporation, a nationally recognized organization for senior living, and the San Francisco Zen Center.

As America’s first and only Zen-inspired senior living community, Enso Village is informed by a set of nine Guiding Principles. These are based on the awareness that we are all connected. We share a commitment to compassion and strive to pay careful attention to the details of everyday life. We are inspired by the history, recipes and practices of Greens Restaurant, a high-quality vegetarian restaurant which was started by the San Francisco Zen Center 45 years ago.

For the Director of Nourishment, a primary focus is on the commitment to “honor food as a gift and remember how it comes to us” and “make conscious, informed decisions around the meals we prepare, serve and eat”. We focus on accessing local growers and purveyors of food and wine, with an emphasis on organic food. And we support our on-site kitchen garden to actualize the literal farm to table process and the understanding that our food is a gift.

As America’s first and only Zen-inspired senior living community, Enso Village is a workplace like no other place you have ever worked. Here, our staff and residents engage fully and form close and meaningful relationships. We seek to uphold our professionalism and our humanity in equal measure. We listen with open minds and hearts. We learn something meaningful from every person and every experience. Sustaining others is what sustains us.

The Role

The Director of Nourishment provides strategic leadership and oversight of all dining, culinary, and nourishment operations at Enso Village. This role ensures that all food, hospitality, and service programs support the health, well-being, and satisfaction of residents and all members of the Nourishment team, while reflecting the community’s Zen-inspired values and the Guiding Principles. All while maintaining strict compliance with RCFE (Title 22) and DSS regulations.

The Director sets the department’s vision, budget, and standards, and collaborates closely with the Executive Chef, Dining Room Manager and Kitchen Garden Manager to ensure operational excellence, strong interdepartmental communication, and continuous improvement. The Director also consults with the representative of Zen Inspired Senior Living, who encourages alignment with the Zen Inspired Principles. The ultimate success of the Nourishment Department, including quality, compliance, and resident satisfaction, rests with the Director, who provides guidance, mentorship, and accountability to all members of the team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Leads the Nourishment Department in alignment with Enso Village’s mission, values, and the Guiding Principles.
• Establishes and executes the strategic direction for culinary and hospitality programs, ensuring alignment with resident wellness, sustainability, and community engagement.
• Oversees all aspects of dining operations, including Independent Living, Memory Care, Assisted Living, and catering services.
• Partners with the Executive Chef to ensure culinary standards, menu development, and meal delivery meet both regulatory requirements and resident expectations.

• Collaborates with the Kitchen Garden Manager to plan for growing seasonable vegetables.

• Serves as the departmental liaison to the CEO, senior leadership team, and regulatory agencies.

Team Development and Collaboration

• Directly supervises and supports the Executive Chef, Dining Room Manager, and Kitchen Garden Manager.
• Coaches and develops team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect.
• Holds regular departmental meetings to ensure coordination between kitchen, service, and resident relations functions.
• Partners closely with the Executive Chef to ensure seamless execution of menu plans, purchasing, and labor efficiency.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Maintains full compliance with DSS Title 22, CDPH, and local health department requirements.
• Oversees food safety, sanitation, and infection control programs.
• Ensures all documentation (menus, production records, temperature logs, audits) is complete and survey-ready at all times.
• Leads or participates in all regulatory inspections and ensures prompt resolution of any findings.

Fiscal Stewardship

• Develops, monitors, and manages the departmental operating budget in collaboration with the Executive Chef.
• Oversees purchasing, vendor relations, and contract negotiations to ensure cost-effective and ethical sourcing.
• Tracks and analyzes food and labor costs to maintain financial targets without compromising quality.

Resident and Community Engagement

• Maintains high visibility in dining areas, actively engaging with residents to ensure satisfaction and connection.
• Oversees resident food committees and feedback sessions, incorporating input into continuous improvement efforts.
• Collaborates with Wellness, Facilities, and Garden teams to align food programs with resident health and environmental sustainability goals.
• Represents Enso Village’s dining philosophy in community outreach and public relations.

Collaboration and Communication

• Partners closely with the Executive Chef, Dining Room Manager and Kitchen Garden Manger to ensure operational decisions align with overall department strategy
• Communicates effectively with Nourishment, Wellness, Garden, and Facilities teams to support smooth, coordinated operations across the department
• Shares key Nourishment updates with the Enso community to promote resident and team member engagement

Professional Leadership

• Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Promotes a culture of innovation, mindfulness, and service excellence.
• Stays current with industry trends in senior living dining, nutrition, and hospitality.
• Acts as Manager on Duty as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, or related field required.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in senior living, healthcare, or fine-dining operations.
• ServSafe Manager Certification and HACCP Certification required (or ability to obtain).
• Demonstrated success managing budgets, leading teams, and achieving regulatory compliance.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in preparing and serving vegetarian meals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and food service management software.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and move through kitchen and dining areas frequently.
• Lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds.
• Exposure to kitchen heat, cleaning agents, and food allergens.
• Must maintain personal hygiene and dress standards appropriate to food service leadership.

Compensation and Benefits:

Enso Village is committed to equal pay and transparency. The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $130,000. This range provided as a general guideline and compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, external non-profit market data, and business considerations.

We provide team members with a supportive and inclusive work environment focused on health and well-being. Eligible team members are offered comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive Benefits : Medical, dental, and vision coverage available starting on your first day of employment.
• Life & Disability Insurance : Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability coverage.
• Retirement Savings : 403(b) plan with a generous employer match to help you plan for the future.
• Generous Paid Time Off : Paid annual vacation, sick days, personal days, and holidays.
• Healthy Meals : Subsidized organic, nutritious meals available daily.
• Professional Development : Opportunities for ongoing career growth and development within the organization.

We value applicants of all different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets. If you think you could excel in this role (regardless of whether you meet all of the qualifications), we encourage you to apply. Enso Village is an equal opportunity employer which means that we consider applicants for hire and make employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants who request an accommodation.