Skilled Nursing Dietary Aide

Dietary Aide

Cedar Ridge Inn | Farmington, New Mexico

Why Join Cedar Ridge Inn?

At Cedar Ridge Inn, joining our team means more than accepting a job—it means becoming part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.

Our Dietary Services team plays an important role in resident health, comfort, satisfaction, and quality of life. As a Dietary Aide, you will help create positive dining experiences while working alongside a supportive team committed to providing excellent service.

✔ Supportive, team-oriented work environment

✔ Opportunities for professional growth and advancement

✔ Leadership that values and supports employees

✔ Meaningful work serving residents every day

✔ Opportunity to build experience in healthcare, senior living, and food service

Position Overview

Cedar Ridge Inn is seeking a dependable, compassionate, and service-oriented Dietary Aide to join our Dietary Services team.

The Dietary Aide assists with meal preparation, resident meal service, dining room operations, dishwashing, sanitation, and general kitchen support. This position works closely with cooks, dietary leadership, nursing staff, and other team members to ensure residents receive meals safely, accurately, and on time.

More importantly, our Dietary Aides help create an enjoyable dining experience. A friendly interaction, a clean dining environment, and attention to resident preferences can make a meaningful difference in a resident's day.

Previous healthcare or dietary experience is preferred but not required. We welcome dependable candidates who are willing to learn and have a passion for serving others.

Key Responsibilities

Resident Dining & Meal Service

• Assist with preparing and setting up resident dining areas before scheduled meals
• Serve meals, snacks, beverages, and other food items to residents
• Prepare and deliver resident meal trays as assigned
• Assist with basic food preparation, portioning, and meal setup under appropriate direction
• Follow established menus, meal instructions, resident preferences, and assigned dietary requirements
• Provide residents with friendly, respectful, and attentive service during meals
• Assist with collecting dishes, trays, and dining supplies following meal service
• Communicate resident food preferences, concerns, or changes in eating patterns to the appropriate team member
• Support special meals, resident celebrations, activities, and facility events as assigned
  
  
  

Kitchen & Dietary Support

• Assist cooks and other Dietary Services team members with meal preparation and service
• Prepare beverages, snacks, desserts, and basic food items as assigned
• Portion food according to established guidelines
• Stock and organize food, beverages, utensils, and dietary supplies
• Assist with receiving and properly storing food and supplies
• Rotate food and supplies according to established procedures
• Help maintain an organized and efficient kitchen throughout the shift
• Communicate shortages or supply needs to dietary leadership
  
  
  

Cleaning & Sanitation

• Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, cookware, trays, and kitchen equipment
• Clean and sanitize tables, counters, food-preparation surfaces, equipment, and dining areas
• Sweep, mop, and maintain assigned kitchen and dining-room floors
• Properly dispose of food waste and trash
• Maintain clean and organized storage, kitchen, and dining areas
• Complete assigned opening, closing, and cleaning responsibilities
• Follow established procedures for handling cleaning products and chemicals
  
  
  

Food Safety & Infection Prevention

• Follow established food-safety, sanitation, hygiene, and infection-prevention practices
• Maintain proper hand hygiene and use appropriate personal protective equipment as required
• Follow established procedures for food storage, handling, preparation, and service
• Assist with maintaining appropriate food temperatures as assigned
• Follow procedures designed to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness
• Immediately report food-safety concerns, equipment problems, spills, hazards, or other safety concerns
• Follow all applicable facility policies and Dietary Services procedures
  
  
  

Resident-Centered Service

• Treat every resident with dignity, kindness, patience, and respect
• Support resident preferences and choices whenever possible
• Help create a welcoming and enjoyable dining atmosphere
• Communicate professionally with residents, families, visitors, and coworkers
• Respect resident privacy and confidentiality
• Respond positively to resident requests and communicate concerns to the appropriate staff member
• Remember that every interaction is an opportunity to help a resident feel cared for
  
  
  

Teamwork & Professionalism

• Work collaboratively with cooks, Dietary Aides, dietary leadership, nursing staff, and other departments
• Maintain dependable attendance and arrive prepared for scheduled shifts
• Follow instructions and complete assigned responsibilities accurately and on time
• Assist coworkers during busy meal periods and when additional support is needed
• Participate in required training, education, and facility meetings
• Maintain a positive, professional, and team-oriented attitude
• Perform additional Dietary Services responsibilities as assigned
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Previous dietary, restaurant, hospitality, senior living, healthcare, or food-service experience preferred but not required
• Willingness to learn food-service, sanitation, and senior-living dining procedures
• Dependable and able to maintain consistent attendance
• Positive, compassionate, and service-oriented attitude
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to accurately follow menus and dietary instructions
• Strong attention to cleanliness, organization, and food safety
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced kitchen and dining environment
• Commitment to treating residents with dignity, compassion, and respect
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
  
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Health, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Care Cash Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for career advancement
  
  
  

Grow With Us

You don't need years of healthcare experience to begin making a difference at Cedar Ridge Inn.

Whether you are entering the workforce, bringing previous restaurant or food-service experience, or looking to begin a career in senior living, we want to provide an environment where you can learn and grow.

Dietary Services provides opportunities to develop experience in food preparation, resident dining, kitchen operations, food safety, senior living, and healthcare hospitality.

About Us

Cedar Ridge Inn proudly serves the Farmington, New Mexico community by providing skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care services.

Our mission is simple:

To Make Every Resident Feel Cared For.

Our Dietary Services team plays an important part in fulfilling that mission. Meals provide more than nutrition—they provide comfort, routine, social connection, and something residents can look forward to each day.

We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are valued, supported, and given the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

Apply Today

If you are dependable, enjoy working with people, and want an opportunity where your work directly contributes to the resident experience, we encourage you to apply.

Join Cedar Ridge Inn and help us make every resident feel cared for—one meal and one interaction at a time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cedar Ridge Inn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Cedar Ridge Inn is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants requiring assistance should contact Human Resources.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday
• Ability to bend, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive food-service and cleaning tasks
• Ability to lift and carry food products, dishes, supplies, and kitchen materials as required
• Ability to safely work around kitchen equipment, hot surfaces, food products, and cleaning supplies
• Ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen and dining environment
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation