Director of Dining Services/Executive Chef - Senior Living

Kickstart the New Year with a new career at The Charlotte, proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work®! We’re a hospitality-focused luxury senior living company that values our people as our greatest asset, guided by our principle of “People First, Always.” At The Charlotte , compassion, respect, and dedication drive us to create meaningful interactions. Our culture promotes growth, teamwork, and a genuine commitment to enriching the lives of both our residents & team members. Be a part of something extraordinary! We are currently accepting applications for a Director of Dining/Executive Chef. This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day dining services operations, plus contribute to the preparation and cooking of meals. Apply today and help us put people at the heart of everything we do!

POSITION SUMMARY:
Possesses a comprehensive knowledge of safe, sanitary food handling procedures, preparation methods, merchandising and supervision. Has knowledge of special diets and all applicable local, state and federal regulations. Manage the day-to-day dining services operations of a retirement community, ensuring resident satisfaction by consistently delivering exceptional service and a quality food product in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and Senior Living Communities’ policies, procedures and standards.

Essential functions:

• Lead and personally contribute to the preparation and cooking of meals for all dining venues in the community.
• Monitor food production to ensure compliance with Senior Living Communities’ standards for quality, presentation, portion control, safety, sanitation, and other appropriate quality and compliance.
• Attract, retain, coach, motivate and lead a high-performance dining service delivery team; hold the team accountable for meeting all quality, safety and other performance standards.
• Assures the implementation and efficient delivery of Dining Services program.
• Create menus and plan for special events.
• Keeps abreast of special need diets for Healthcare residents and ensures proper execution.
• Establishes and assures the timely, open, and effective communication of all dietary associates with residents and family members and guests, assuring excellent customer satisfaction.
• Builds, develops, and effectively manages all dietary associates, optimizing individual and team performance through effective leadership, mentoring, and training.
• Monitor inventory and prepare food and supply orders in order to ensure efficient operations, meet budget expectations, maximize freshness of ingredients, and minimize waste.
• Lead and/or actively participate in daily production meetings with the team.
• Provide training, coaching, guidance, and direction to line cooks.
• Create and manage schedules to ensure sufficient staffing and adherence to labor budget.
• Oversee and continuously monitor food preparation, storage and handling to ensure adherence with all proper handling, HACCP, labeling, and storage protocols and ensure compliance with all relevant food service regulations.
• Follow all safety protocols and set a strong example for practicing a culture of safety.
• Maintain documentation of temperature charts and records.
• Assures the kitchen environment and all physical areas in dining are properly maintained in a clean, orderly and safe manner, according to regulatory guidelines.
• Maintain an open communication and professional working relationship between front and back of house operations and sister departments.
• Works with other departments in marketing the community, including participation in community events, public relations and personal visits.
• Assists in the development of and adheres to the Dining Services budget, ensuring the delivery of excellent services and products while achieving the financial goals set for the community.
• Administers and participates in Senior Living Communities’ “Manager on Duty” program.
• Serves on special projects and assignments outside of his/her own community to support other communities or the broader portfolio.
• Participates in and attends all in-service training and education programs as scheduled.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Technical Skills – Individual must demonstrate current and ongoing competence in tasks assigned which indicates a specialized skill in this area above and beyond the average.
• Communication – Demonstrates an ability to effectively and regularly transfer information to necessary parties to improve the quality of her work and to provide her supervisor with actionable, accurate data.
• Initiative – Is self-motivated and personally competitive. Wants to achieve for the good of the Company and her team. Seeks additional work when they have capacity. Demonstrates an ability and desire to bring new ideas and solutions to their supervisor on an ongoing basis.
• Flexibility – The ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions. The ability to navigate obstacles with ease, aplomb and professionalism.
• Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to ideas and tries new things
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; encourages others and asks for help when needed. Exhibits patience and compassion.
• Professionalism – Ensures product is delivered on time and is of the highest quality. Assumes responsibility for mistakes. Presents themselves in a manner which enhances the brand image. Understands that no information is truly private and conducts online or social networking activities accordingly.
• Ethics – Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works ethically with integrity; upholds the Company’s Guiding Principles:
  • People First, Always.
  • We Exist to Serve our Members.
  • We Have a Responsibility to be Full.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Expected Hours of Work: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Capable of standing, maneuvering independently and safety around work area.
• Capable of standing on a tile floor for an eight-hour shift.
• Ability to see and hear, or to use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that position requirements can be fully executed.
• Sufficient manual dexterity to operate a fire extinguisher and to manipulate kitchen equipment, including slicer, chopper, processor, knives, etc.
• Proficient with computers to complete job-related functions.
• An individual in this position will be required to lift or carry weight up to 50 lbs.
• Must be free of diseases that can be transmitted in the performance of job responsibilities during the stage of communicability unless the employee can be given duties that minimize the likelihood of transmission.
• May be exposed to minimal to moderate noise and exposure to blood and/or body fluids.
• May experience traumatic situations including psychiatric and deceased residents.
• Subject to moderate physical and emotional stress associated with food Performance of job tasks will involve exposure to cleaning chemicals, heat and cold.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Expected Hours of Work : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

TRAVEL : Local and out of state travel, including overnight stays, may be required from time to time to attend conferences, training, meetings, and professional development programs.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• 2-year culinary degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years food preparation experience in a high-volume dining services venue with at least three years in a supervisory capacity; experience in a senior living environment preferred.
• Management experience required.