Overview:
Are you a hospitality-driven culinary leader who thrives on creating exceptional dining experiences? Do you believe great food has the power to build community, comfort, and connection? Then we’re looking for YOU to join our senior living team at Community First Solutions!
We are seeking a Director of Culinary Services to lead dining operations at Montage Mason and The Cottage. In this dual-site leadership role, you’ll oversee culinary operations, develop and mentor team members, manage budgets and food quality, and create an outstanding dining experience for residents and guests. This is the perfect opportunity for an experienced culinary professional who combines operational excellence with a passion for hospitality, leadership, and service.
Location: Mason, Ohio
Pay: Starting at $73,000/year, based on experience
Schedule:
- Flexible schedule based on operational needs
- Must be available to work a variety of shifts, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
- Routinely works across breakfast, lunch, and dinner service for quality oversight and team support
Why You’ll Love Us:
Mission-Driven Work: Create meaningful dining experiences that enhance quality of life for seniors every single day.
Hospitality-Focused Culture: Join a team that values service excellence, collaboration, creativity, and resident satisfaction.
Leadership Opportunity: Lead and develop culinary teams across two vibrant senior living communities while helping shape programming and dining innovation.
Stability & Growth: Be part of a trusted organization with opportunities for continued professional development and career advancement.
Why We’ll Love You:
- You’re passionate about hospitality and creating memorable dining experiences.
- You’re a strong leader who motivates and develops teams through coaching, accountability, and collaboration.
- You bring operational and financial expertise, balancing budgets, staffing, inventory, and quality service with confidence.
- You’re adaptable and hands-on, willing to step into kitchen or service operations whenever needed.
- You’re organized and detail-oriented, ensuring compliance with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
- You value resident engagement and enjoy incorporating feedback and preferences into menus, events, and dining experiences.
If you’re ready to lead a culinary program centered on hospitality, excellence, and resident experience, we’d love to meet you. Apply today and take the next step in your culinary leadership career with Community First Solutions!
Responsibilities:
- Manage Culinary program staff, plan and order for weekly menus and specials
- Adhere to proper food safety and sanitation measures and ensure high levels of quality service in every part of the department
- Interview and hire for new culinary staff positions
- Ensure that supervisors and hourly team members maintain a safe and sanitary environment
- Provide a nurturing and pleasuring dining experience
- Onboard and train all team members in the culinary team, ensuring that any state and company-mandated training is completed in a timely manner and documented properly
- Develop and maintain schedules for both front of house and back of house team members, working with leads to ensure schedules meet budgets and provide the level of food quality and service outlined for our residents
- Develops/maintains a pleasing and nutritious menu
- Conduct monthly Chef meetings with community residents to plan for specials and additional menu modifications, ensuring that community preferences are incorporated into menus and events
- Understand all aspects of the culinary operating and staffing budgets and ensure that financial goals are met
- Complete variance reporting and meets with Executive Director to update them on departmental spend and events
- Assists the Senior Director of Culinary & Executive Director in planning and forecasting budgets for following years.
- Comply with all local, state and/or federal licensing requirements, rules, regulations, OSHA and company requirements
- Works to improve operations, reduce costs and develops new programming ideas.
- Work a variety of shifts on an as-needed basis. Must be willing and able to cook and serve shifts to ensure staffing needs are met. Routinely work different shifts for quality control, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Abides by the company Always Behaviors each and every day as we serve our clients, colleagues, and community.
- All other duties as assigned and/or appropriate to the position.
Qualifications:
Education: College degree in food service or hospitality management is preferred
Licenses or other required certifications: ServSafe certification. Obtain or hold any county and/or state required food handling/sanitation licenses or certifications. Must have an active driver’s license and the ability to maintain active car insurance.
Experience: Minimum of eight years of progressive experience in the food service industry with at least three of those years in a responsible supervisory role of preparing food and service customers
Specialized knowledge, skills, or abilities:
- Experience to include management of food inventories and budget
- Experience working in senior living or healthcare
- Good understanding of Excel and online food service ordering platforms
- A strong communicator and proven manager who can work with a wide range and number of team members
- Extensive knowledge of 24/7 food service preparations and federal, state and local regulations regarding safety of food preparation and handling