Director of Dining Services-Kendallville

WHO YOU ARE
You are an experienced, service-minded food service professional with a passion for creating exceptional dining experiences for older adults. With strong leadership skills and a commitment to excellence, you lead by example, fostering a culture of hospitality, safety, and continuous improvement. You thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy bringing people together through food, service, and community engagement.

You are also a strategic thinker - comfortable managing budgets, compliance, and departmental operations - while keeping resident satisfaction at the heart of everything you do.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As the Director of Dining Services, you will be responsible for the overall management and leadership of our Dining Services department across the community. You’ll ensure the highest standards of food quality, service, sanitation, and safety, while managing a dynamic team of culinary and dining staff. You will:

· Lead and develop dining services staff by providing training, coaching, and ongoing performance feedback.

· Develop and manage department policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state, federal, and organizational standards.

· Oversee food production, menu planning, food quality, and service presentation for daily meals and special events.

· Monitor resident satisfaction and use feedback to improve the dining experience.

· Collaborate with Human Resources and the Executive Director to hire, coach, and counsel staff as needed.

· Create and manage staffing schedules, in-service training, and employee meetings.

· Assist in developing the annual dining services budget and ensure financial goals are met.

· Represent the dining department in internal and external meetings and serve as a key liaison between the department and administration.

· Ensure all sanitation, safety, and food handling practices comply with local, state, and federal regulations.

WHAT YOU NEED

Education / Training:

· Associate degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.

· Certified Dietary Manager or Certified Food Protection credentials a plus.

· Serv-Safe certification required.

Experience:

· Minimum of 2 years in food service management with an emphasis on dining experience and culinary operations.

· At least 2 years of supervisory experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Strong understanding of regulatory compliance and sanitation standards.

· Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.

· Customer service focused with a strong sense of hospitality.

· Well-organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

· Available to work weekends, holidays, and extended shifts as needed.

· Clear communication skills—both written and verbal.

Equipment You’ll Use

· Blender, mixer, food processor

· Oven, stove, grill, griddle

· Deep fryer, char broiler

· Steamer, tilt skillet

· Commercial dishwashing equipment

Why Choose Lutheran Life Villages? We believe our team deserves to feel valued, supported, and inspired—both at work and beyond. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and meaningful benefits package designed to help you thrive:

✨ Celebrate You

· Enjoy a paid day off for your birthday every year - because you deserve it!

· Receive holiday pay 

· Earn PTO in your first year - with more as you grow.

Health & Wellness

· Access medical, dental, and vision insurance - starting within just 30 days.

· Life insurance and short-term disability coverage to protect you and your family.

· Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support when you need it most.

🎓 Invest in Your Future

· Take advantage of education assistance, including our Achieve Your Degree program (in partnership with Ivy Tech).

· Plan ahead with a 403(b)-retirement savings plan, complete with employer match.

*Benefits listed above are eligible based upon position status & hours worked.

About Lutheran Life Villages

For over 90 years, Lutheran Life Villages has provided compassionate, spiritually connected care to seniors. Founded as the “Oak Street Home” in Kendallville in 1931, we have grown into multiple thriving senior communities across Northeast Indiana. While much has evolved, our mission to serve seniors remains steadfast, and as we continue to expand, we are dedicated to enhancing the lives of our residents, staff, and community.

Lutheran Life Villages offers a range of services for seniors, including assisted living, independent senior apartments, long-term care, memory care, memory care assisted living, and short-term rehabilitation across six campuses. Proud to be an Employer of Choice with a team of over 600 employees, we also serve as a Provider of Choice for more than 520 residents. Guided by Christ’s love, we serve individuals and their caregivers with compassion and a commitment to independence, wellness, and spiritual life.

Lutheran Life Villages is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO) that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, gender or any status protected by federal, state or local laws. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, competence, and performance.