Dining Room Manager

Dining Room Manager

As a nonprofit leader in aging, Eskaton helps people live well, longer with trusted guidance at every stage. We believe aging should be a vibrant, supported, and celebrated journey, not an experience to face alone. For over 55 years, Eskaton has been a cornerstone of Northern California, growing a network of 23 communities dedicated to older adults and the people who care for them. When you join us, you're not just starting a job. You're stepping into a career where your work creates a real impact on people's daily lives and strengthening the communities we call home.

We invest in you (because you invest in others). We know that to take great care of our residents, we must take great care of you. We are genuinely committed to your health, your happiness, and your future. That's why we offer:

• Financial Security: Competitive pay and a 401K matching program to help you plan for your own future.
• Total Wellbeing: Comprehensive benefits that support your physical and mental health.
• A Place Where You Belong: We celebrate diversity and equity across the entire aging spectrum, ensuring every team member feels seen and valued.

Our DNA (Core Values): We're looking for people who align with our mission and want to grow with us:

• Welcoming: You're a natural at creating warmth and a sense of belonging for everyone you meet.
• Bring (Y)our Best: You take pride in your work and strive for excellence in the "little things" and the "big things" alike.
• Empowerment: You don't wait for permission to do the right thing. You step up, take ownership, and lead with initiative.
• Growth: You're a lifelong learner who seeks consistent improvement and sustainable growth.

Position Summary: The Dining Room Manager provides operational support to the Director of Culinary Experience and serves as second in command in the director's absence. The manager supervises wait staff in the day-to-day operations of the dining areas and maintains a commitment to providing a high-quality, positive, and safe physical and social environment for all residents and visitors.

Essential Job Functions:

• Maintains warm, hospitable relations in all resident contacts while operating within budgeted guidelines.
• Promotes customer engagement activities and interacts with residents during mealtimes to monitor resident satisfaction or concerns about food service, and develops plans to address as appropriate.
• Facilitates the highest quality and safety practices in all food service standards and service to the residents in the dining room.
• Maintains sanitation and control standards in the dining room and wait stations.
• Ensures standards of cleanliness, hygiene, proper attire, and health standards are maintained at all times by the food service dining team.
• Maintains a high level of professional appearance, demeanor, ethics and image of self and subordinates.
• Manages and oversees food service schedules.
• Communicates effectively between departments and corporate personnel.
• Assists with the coordination of catering, banquets, and activities.
• Monitors and evaluates food quality for presentation, temperature, and serving portion size. Provides leadership and communicates with the food production team for adjustments and shares resident feedback.
• Monitors and evaluates table service adequacy for timing, etiquette, and thoroughness; provides service hospitality training and adjustments as appropriate.
• Promotes the success of others.

Other Job Functions: Models and embodies Eskaton's core values, including:

• Creating a sense of warmth, welcoming and belonging for all.
• Fostering excellence in everything we do.
• Seeking consistent improvement, learning and sustainable growth.
• Stepping up, taking ownership and leading with initiative.
• Fully complies with all provisions in Eskaton's Corporate Compliance Policy and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Maintains attendance as outlined in Eskaton policy.
• Follows required dress code and Eskaton's Community Appearance Standards. Maintains a professional image to the public and residents.
• Works in accordance with established safety guidelines; uses proper body mechanics; follows safe work practices; wears appropriate safety gear.

Starting pay ranges from $75,000 - $85,000 annually. Factors such as scope, responsibilities, experience, education, job-related skills, internal equity, and market considerations may influence base pay.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• ServSafe certificate required.

Training and Experience:

• Two years' supervisory experience preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in dining services, restaurant, hospitality, or food and beverage operations
• Demonstrated success supervising front-of-house teams
• Experience in senior living, healthcare, hotel, or fine-dining environments preferred
• Foundational knowledge of wine and spirits, including varietals, food pairings, responsible service, and inventory control
• Proficiency with point-of-sale (POS) systems for order entry, billing, reporting, and reconciliation
• Proven experience planning, coordinating, and executing private events, banquets, and catered functions

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Ability to understand and work harmoniously with residents, staff and healthcare professionals.
• Ability to maintain high professional and ethical standards.
• Ability to work harmoniously with residents, staff, and team members
• Ability to maintain high professional and ethical standards
• Working knowledge of menu development, common food allergies, and coordination with the culinary team to honor resident preferences
• Strong leadership, coaching, conflict-resolution, and team-development skills
• Ability to recruit, train, schedule, evaluate, and motivate a diverse hospitality team
• Solid understanding of food safety regulations, HACCP principles, infection-prevention practices, and applicable state and local requirements
• Demonstrated business acumen, including labor scheduling, supply ordering, inventory management, beverage cost control, and budget oversight
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and respond professionally to resident and family feedback
• Proficiency with point-of-sale systems, scheduling tools, and standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office, email, reporting tools)
• Ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced, service-driven environment, including peak meal periods and special events

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements: Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Notify the People & Culture team to request any accommodation(s) to perform any of the essential functions of this position.

X - Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

The final candidate must successfully pass Eskaton's post offer, pre-employment testing which includes a criminal background check, drug test, TB screen test and health screen. All new hires are required to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of employment.

Eskaton is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.