Assistant Dining Services Director

Cedarhurst, a regional healthcare provider and true friend of older adults, seeks a service-minded, career-oriented individual to join our team as a Assistant Dining Services Director at our Cedarhurst of Springfield IL community.

As a Assistant Dining Services Director, you will have the opportunity to connect with, and positively impact the lives of, our residents daily! You will be responsible for direction, supervision, and the overall operation of the culinary program within the community.

As a Assistant Dining Services Director, working with the Executive Director, you will impact the lives of our residents by -

• Supervising and providing direction to all wait/server staff, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of all dining rooms.
  
  • Developing and communicating schedules for dining server/wait staff.
  • Ensuring staff arrive on time and conducting all end-of-shift duties before departure.
  • Maintaining individually, as well as ensuring staff are groomed and dressed properly and in accordance with company/community guidelines, as well as state & federal regulations (i.e. nametags are on, proper footwear is worn, etc.).
  • Holding daily Server briefings to discuss the menu and reviewing ways to improve service.
  • Implementing, supervising, and participating in cleaning schedules - ensuring all utensils, dishes, equipment, and work areas are cleaned properly and in a timely manner, and ensuring procedures regarding infection control, foodborne illness prevention, harmful chemical handling, fire, safety, and sanitation are strictly adhered to, promptly addressing any transgressions.
• Ensuring booking, set-up, implementation, and clean-up of all banquets, private parties, and resident/guest reservations are completed successfully and addressing any issues that arise in relation to the event scheduled, communicating all issues with DSD and the resident and/or guest while working toward a resolution for the identified issue.
• Developing, revising, and communicating policies and procedures to the dining services staff in coordination with the DSD.
• Participating in the service and preparation of meals, as well as supervising and assisting the Servers during and after the meal service (i.e. helping with beverage service, serving a station, or assisting in clearing and cleaning tables) when short-staffed.
• Promoting, establishing, and maintaining a pleasant dining experience for all residents and guests by ensuring excellent quality and superb service is delivered:
  
  • Assisting with and communicating all necessary information to wait staff and the kitchen staff in a timely manner (i.e. guest counts, special meal requests, food and beverage shortages, buffet or special function set-ups, VIP tables, special occasions, etc.).
  • Identifying and resolving issues that may arise and ensuring all affected parties, as well as management, are informed.
  • Ensuring the atmosphere is pleasant and enjoyable, dining services are timely, and associates are attentive to the needs of the residents and guests.
  • Opening dining rooms for service on time, welcoming and seating guests, and ensuring all tables are serviced by the associates for drinks within 5 (five) minutes of seating.
  • Ensuring the dining area is clean, tables are bussed and set, and service & side-station areas are clean and in order.
• Participating in the planning of community, individual, and special event menus, and assisting in assuring menus are followed, meals are prepared according to the approved recipes, and food is prepared in a nutritional, appetizing fashion and presented in an attractive manner.
• Taking inventory and assisting with food, beverage, and supply ordering, ensuring food/supply costs are within budgetary constraints.
• Supervising and inspecting receipt of food and non-food deliveries and ensuring food storage is in accordance with Company/Community guidelines and health department regulations.
• Participating in recruitment, interviewing, and decisions relating to hiring, performance evaluation, coaching/corrective action, and termination of dining services staff. Communicating recruitment needs in a timely and effective manner to the DSD.
• Conducting orientation, training, and continued education related to food service and preparation in accordance with all state and federal laws and regulations.
• Ensuring all Dining Services associates follow identified safety rules and reporting all accidents/incidents immediately to the DSD and HR.
• Maintaining high customer service focus and conveying this attitude to all dining staff.
• Ensuring effective communication by attending meetings as required and assisting the DSD in holding staff meetings on a regular basis to impart information.
• Providing feedback and recommendations, both positive and negative, on all resident letters and comments to staff and in relation to the dining areas.
• Maintaining a high degree of interest in self-development, displaying this by making suggestions for realistic improvements.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

To become a Assistant Dining Services Director, you will need -

• Associate's Degree and 2+ years of related experience OR 3+ years of past experience.
• ServSafe® certification, required.
• Applicable State licensure and/or certification, required.
• Three (3) years of dining experience in a senior care community with proven leadership and organizational skills, state required food preparation license required.
• Collaborative team player able to establish effective working relationships with team members.
• Previous staff management and/or coaching and mentoring of dining services team experience.
• Demonstrated communication excellence, verbally and in writing; comfortable presenting to large groups.
• Dependable with a strong work ethic.
• Must possess a general knowledge of laws and restrictions regarding Assisted Living care, as well as a solid understanding of opportunities and limits of other levels of care within senior living.
• Requires: thoroughness & detail oriented, goal- and result-oriented, as well as self-motivated.
• Sense of professional curiosity, desire to learn new things, and to find/ recommend solutions to problems.
• Great communication and interpersonal skills required along with the heart and passion to work with older adults while providing the best care possible - Must possess an appreciation of seniors and an understanding of the aging process.
• Must have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, to be flexible, to work well with many interruptions and have skill in multi-tasking.
• Must exhibit and promote a high level of customer service, hospitality, curiosity and friendliness towards all residents, visitors, employees and the overall facility.
• Be able to demonstrate proficiency in Internet browsers (e.g., Explorer, Chrome, and Fire Fox), Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Excel, Word and Publisher, electronic health records (EHR) systems, and any HR related systems if applicable.

When considering a career with Cedarhurst, please understand that -

• Our core values describe our expectation that every team member will be Passionate, Trustworthy, Empathetic, Positive, Respectful, and Approachable - and in every way a real, true friend of those we serve.
• To be a Cedarhurst team member means you're devoted to doing The Friend's Work: In your every effort, you reassure, energize, and inspire older adults in Cedarhurst.
• Cedarhurst believes that its team is its greatest asset. For this reason, we provide our team members with extensive training as well as personal and career development opportunities.
• Cedarhurst believes in promoting from within. We seek team members who wish to grow with us.
• Cedarhurst offers a competitive benefits package including medical insurance coverage, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and a 401(k) Plan with company match (after 1 year of service).
• Cedarhurst considers the health and safety of its residents, family members, and team members as its highest priorities. All offers of employment are conditioned on completing and passing a background and drug test, participating in testing requirements (such as TB), and using designated PPE when required.