Culinary Services Director

Job Description

Job Description

Dietary Director

Alliance Health Group is a family of skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers dedicated to providing resident-centered, quality-focused care. Our workplace culture is built around uplifting people, supporting our team members, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents. If you are passionate about food service, leadership, and resident satisfaction, we invite you to join our team!

Alliance Health Group is seeking a Dietary Director to lead our Dietary Department.

Working at Alliance Health Group, you will enjoy:

• Shift flexibility

• Fun employee engagement activities

• A positive work environment

• Excellent training

• Competitive pay and benefits

What you will do:

The Dietary Director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Dietary Department, ensuring residents receive nutritious, appetizing, and timely meals that meet their individual dietary needs. This position manages departmental staffing, food purchasing, menu planning, food preparation, meal service, sanitation, and regulatory compliance. The Dietary Director provides leadership and guidance to dietary staff while maintaining high standards of food quality, safety, efficiency, and resident satisfaction.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the daily management and operations of the Dietary Department.

• Recruit, hire, train, develop, coach, and supervise dietary staff.

• Develop staff schedules, assign duties, establish priorities, and ensure adequate staffing for meal service.

• Manage food and supply purchasing within established budgetary guidelines.

• Maintain appropriate inventory levels and minimize waste while ensuring food and supplies are available as needed.

• Plan and review menus to ensure nutritional adequacy, variety, and compliance with applicable regulations.

• Oversee the preparation and service of regular and therapeutic diets in accordance with physician orders and residents’ individual needs.

• Ensure residents receive appropriate meals and snacks that accommodate prescribed diets, food allergies, and other special dietary requirements.

• Monitor food production to ensure compliance with approved menus, standardized recipes, portion sizes, and proper food storage practices.

• Maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, safety, and timely meal delivery.

• Ensure compliance with sanitation standards, infection control procedures, and applicable state and federal regulations.

• Conduct regular inspections of food preparation, storage, and service areas to ensure cleanliness and food safety.

• Visit residents to evaluate meal satisfaction, gather feedback, and address concerns regarding food preferences and service quality.

• Collaborate with residents, families, nursing staff, physicians, and dietary consultants to support residents’ nutritional needs.

• Oversee the completion and accuracy of required dietary documentation, including MDS information, resident care plans, dietary assessments, progress notes, nutritional data cards, and diet cards.

• Participate in interdisciplinary care plan meetings, department meetings, and quality assurance activities.

• Provide orientation, ongoing training, and performance feedback to dietary employees.

• Recognize staff achievements and foster a positive, respectful, and team-oriented work environment.

• Monitor dietary equipment and ensure it is properly maintained and operated by trained personnel.

• Ensure appropriate handling of cleaning chemicals, hazardous materials, and food service equipment.

• Maintain emergency food and supply inventories in accordance with disaster preparedness requirements.

• Develop and implement corrective action plans in response to regulatory surveys, audits, or quality assurance findings.

• Identify opportunities to improve departmental efficiency, food quality, resident satisfaction, and employee performance.

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

What you need:

• High school diploma or GED required; additional education in food service management, nutrition, or a related field preferred.

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a dietary or food service department required.

• One (1) to two (2) years of management or supervisory experience preferred.

• Experience in a long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or healthcare food service setting preferred.

• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, therapeutic diets, and nutritional requirements.

• Knowledge of applicable state and federal regulations governing dietary services in long-term care facilities.

• Food safety certification or ServSafe certification preferred or required as applicable.

• Effective verbal and written English communication skills.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to communicate professionally with residents, families, employees, vendors, and healthcare professionals.

• A customer-service mindset and the ability to remain professional under pressure.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and make sound decisions.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and departmental needs.

• A positive attitude, personal integrity, and commitment to teamwork and resident-centered care.

• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including standing and walking for extended periods, bending, stooping, and lifting, pushing, pulling, moving, or carrying up to 50 pounds.

Location: 1900 W 1st St, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, USA

Join Alliance Health Group and help create a dining experience that supports residents’ health, dignity, and quality of life!