Director of Dining Services Jobs
Director of Dining Services jobs are open across healthcare, higher education, corporate dining, and hospitality, at levels from manager to senior director, with specializations in menu development, food cost control, and catering operations. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Assistant Director of Dining Services
Ephrata Manor - Ephrata, PA
Who Are We?
Culinesse, from Latin culina (of the kitchen) and esse (essential nature), is a forward thinking boutique dining service company that elevates retirement community living by centering on highly personalized resident and guest experiences. We are designed for senior living communities who seek to develop their own individual identities while having access to our team’s expertise, support and resources. Helping clients nurture their brands is our passion because when they thrive, everyone thrives. Transparency in pricing, sourcing, communications, preparation methods and ingredients is the backbone of the Culinesse brand. All that we do is done with purpose and honesty. Culinesse understands the importance of nourishing the whole person and respecting the sacredness of the environment. Life-enhancing and authentic food connects us.
Job Description
Are you a hands-on, innovative leader, with hospitality experience? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment? Are you able to influence and embrace change by initiating creative solutions?
Culinesse, LLC is looking for an Assistant Director of Dining Services to join our team! An Assistant Director of Dining Services who can lead by example and has experience with high volume catering services.
The Assistant Director of Dining Services will be responsible for aiding the Director of Dining Services. The general responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, those listed below (under “Tasks”). These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
This is a highly collaborative position that requires the ability to balance multiple tasks at one time, prioritize, work with diverse constituencies, and address competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Tasks
- In the absence of the Director of Dining Services, the Assistant Director assumes the responsibility of, and manages and supervises the dining services staff at a single site according to policies and procedures, and federal/state requirements;
- The Assistant Director is responsible for all operations in the front of house dining areas;
- Provides leadership, support and guidance to ensure that food quality standards, inventory levels, food safety guidelines and customer service expectations are met;
- Assists in training, quality control and in-servicing of staff;
- The Assistant Director is able to perform and often performs the job assignments of the dietary aide, cook, and dishwasher (see related job descriptions) and, as such, is able to operate a variety of dining services equipment;
- The Assistant Director performs and leads small groups of subordinates in dining services activities on varying shifts as needed;
- The Assistant Director has strong computer skills to run POS reports, staffing schedules, create and update signage;
- The Assistant Director is accountable for labor levels, OT, revenue opportunities, catering & events;
- The Assistant Director must conduct themselves in a professional manner and ensure their subordinates do the same;
- The Assistant Director consistently embodies the values of Culinesse;
- May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Competencies
- Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations;
- Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing tasks;
- Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude;
- Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical;
- Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Working Conditions
- This position is a full-time role;
- Full-time benefits include (but are not limited to): health, dental, life, vision, and long term disability;
- Generally in an indoor setting;
- Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends and extended hours as business dictates;
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities;
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required – Bachelor’s degree is preferred;
- Experience in dining services management and nutrition is desirable;
- Senior Living or Healthcare dining services experience preferred;
- Must successfully complete an approved sanitation and safety course;
- Two years' experience in quantity food production/service (or equivalent experience) and one year personnel supervision is desired;
- Current ServSafe certification is required in accordance with state/county law, or must become ServSafe certified within 30 calendar days of hire;
- Basic computer skills is a must;
- Ability to understand and place into action basic food safety/sanitation requirements and procedures;
- Knowledge of, and ability to use, all department equipment;
- Ability to maintain records and complete reports as required;
- Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, to actively look for ways to help people, and to be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do;
- Knowledge of the principles and practices within the food profession is required; this includes experiential knowledge required for management of people and/or problems and excellent oral, reading and written communication skills;
- Ability to adjust actions in relation to others' actions, to monitor or assess the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action;
- Must comply with any dress code requirements;
- Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
Assistant Director of Dining Services
Ephrata Manor - Ephrata, PA
Who Are We?
Culinesse, from Latin culina (of the kitchen) and esse (essential nature), is a forward thinking boutique dining service company that elevates retirement community living by centering on highly personalized resident and guest experiences. We are designed for senior living communities who seek to develop their own individual identities while having access to our team’s expertise, support and resources. Helping clients nurture their brands is our passion because when they thrive, everyone thrives. Transparency in pricing, sourcing, communications, preparation methods and ingredients is the backbone of the Culinesse brand. All that we do is done with purpose and honesty. Culinesse understands the importance of nourishing the whole person and respecting the sacredness of the environment. Life-enhancing and authentic food connects us.
Job Description
Are you a hands-on, innovative leader, with hospitality experience? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment? Are you able to influence and embrace change by initiating creative solutions?
Culinesse, LLC is looking for an Assistant Director of Dining Services to join our team! An Assistant Director of Dining Services who can lead by example and has experience with high volume catering services.
The Assistant Director of Dining Services will be responsible for aiding the Director of Dining Services. The general responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, those listed below (under “Tasks”). These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.
This is a highly collaborative position that requires the ability to balance multiple tasks at one time, prioritize, work with diverse constituencies, and address competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Tasks
- In the absence of the Director of Dining Services, the Assistant Director assumes the responsibility of, and manages and supervises the dining services staff at a single site according to policies and procedures, and federal/state requirements;
- The Assistant Director is responsible for all operations in the front of house dining areas;
- Provides leadership, support and guidance to ensure that food quality standards, inventory levels, food safety guidelines and customer service expectations are met;
- Assists in training, quality control and in-servicing of staff;
- The Assistant Director is able to perform and often performs the job assignments of the dietary aide, cook, and dishwasher (see related job descriptions) and, as such, is able to operate a variety of dining services equipment;
- The Assistant Director performs and leads small groups of subordinates in dining services activities on varying shifts as needed;
- The Assistant Director has strong computer skills to run POS reports, staffing schedules, create and update signage;
- The Assistant Director is accountable for labor levels, OT, revenue opportunities, catering & events;
- The Assistant Director must conduct themselves in a professional manner and ensure their subordinates do the same;
- The Assistant Director consistently embodies the values of Culinesse;
- May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Competencies
- Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations;
- Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing tasks;
- Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude;
- Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical;
- Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Working Conditions
- This position is a full-time role;
- Full-time benefits include (but are not limited to): health, dental, life, vision, and long term disability;
- Generally in an indoor setting;
- Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends and extended hours as business dictates;
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities;
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required – Bachelor’s degree is preferred;
- Experience in dining services management and nutrition is desirable;
- Senior Living or Healthcare dining services experience preferred;
- Must successfully complete an approved sanitation and safety course;
- Two years' experience in quantity food production/service (or equivalent experience) and one year personnel supervision is desired;
- Current ServSafe certification is required in accordance with state/county law, or must become ServSafe certified within 30 calendar days of hire;
- Basic computer skills is a must;
- Ability to understand and place into action basic food safety/sanitation requirements and procedures;
- Knowledge of, and ability to use, all department equipment;
- Ability to maintain records and complete reports as required;
- Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, to actively look for ways to help people, and to be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do;
- Knowledge of the principles and practices within the food profession is required; this includes experiential knowledge required for management of people and/or problems and excellent oral, reading and written communication skills;
- Ability to adjust actions in relation to others' actions, to monitor or assess the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action;
- Must comply with any dress code requirements;
- Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
See All 122+ Director of Dining Services Jobs
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Find JobsDirector of Dining Services Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Healthcare Services15
- Morrison Healthcare12
- Aramark8
- Chartwells K127
- Chartwells Higher Education5
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in director of dining services jobs.
- Five or more years of progressive food service management experience
- Demonstrated experience managing and developing culinary and service staff teams
- Proficiency in food cost analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting
- ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety credential
- Experience with menu planning, nutrition standards, and dietary compliance
- Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, nutrition, or a related field
Tips for Your Director of Dining Services Job Search
Quantify food cost and revenue results
Hiring managers want to see measurable outcomes, not just duties. Replace vague bullets with specific results: food cost percentage reduced, revenue generated from catering programs, or staff turnover improvement. Numbers make your resume stand out at the director level.
Highlight your servsafe and sanitation credentials
Many director of dining services postings list ServSafe Manager certification as a hard requirement, not a preference. Put it in a dedicated credentials section near the top of your resume so it clears the initial screening before a human ever reads your experience.
Target postings by sector not just title
The role looks different in a university versus a senior living community versus a corporate cafeteria. When searching, filter by sector and read the posting carefully for the operational scale, budget responsibility, and resident or student population it expects you to manage.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists director of dining services openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a budget ownership story for interviews
Interviewers at this level almost always ask how you have managed a food service budget. Have a clear example ready that covers your total budget size, how you tracked variances, and one specific decision you made to bring costs back in line.
Follow up with a service-focused thank you
After your interview, send a note that connects your experience directly to a challenge the hiring manager mentioned, whether that is staffing a residential kitchen or launching a new dining concept. Generic thank you messages do not move the needle at the director level.
Director of Dining Services Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most director of dining servicess?
Healthcare Services, Morrison Healthcare, and Aramark are hiring the most director of dining servicess right now, with openings concentrated in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems and university dining programs tend to post the most openings at the director level.
How many director of dining services jobs are remote?
About 38% of director of dining services openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most of the role is hands-on and facility-based. The sub-areas most likely to allow remote work include menu consulting, nutrition program development, and multi-unit oversight roles where regional travel replaces daily on-site presence.
How do you become a director of dining services?
Start by building several years of supervisory experience in a food service setting, such as a kitchen manager, catering supervisor, or assistant dining director role. Earn a ServSafe Manager certification and, if possible, a degree in hospitality or dietetics. Progress by taking on larger budget responsibility and staff management, then apply for director-level postings once you can demonstrate full-operation oversight.
Can you get hired as a director of dining services without much experience?
Moving directly into a director role with little experience is uncommon because employers expect you to independently manage budgets, staff, and regulatory compliance from day one. A realistic path is to target assistant director or dining manager roles first, build a record of cost control and team leadership, then move up. Some smaller operations, such as a single-site senior living community, may be more open to candidates still building their director-level experience.
What does the director of dining services interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen focused on your budget management experience and leadership philosophy. A second round typically involves an in-person interview with operations leadership and sometimes a panel from HR or the department you would oversee. Some employers, particularly in senior living or higher education, also ask candidates to do a brief food service walk-through or present a sample menu concept as a practical component.
Where can I find and apply to director of dining services jobs?
You can find and apply to director of dining services jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that fit your background and sector preference, then apply directly to each one that matches your experience.
See All 122+ Director of Dining Services Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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