Dining Services Manager

Recognized by Newsweek in 2024 and 2025 as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity

Brookdale Colonial Park is hiring a Dining Service Manager. We are an 86-unit assisted living community. 

We are seeking a passionate and service-driven Dining Services Manager to lead our culinary team in providing exceptional dining experiences for our residents. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both leadership and hands-on culinary involvement, with responsibilities that include menu planning, food preparation, team development, inventory management, scheduling, sanitation oversight, and maintaining quality dining services within budget.

The Dining Services Manager will play an important role in creating a welcoming dining atmosphere while ensuring meals are prepared safely, efficiently, and according to company and nutritional standards. This position partners closely with community leadership and dining team members to deliver excellent hospitality and meaningful resident experiences every day.

If you are an organized, energetic culinary professional who enjoys leading a team, building relationships, and making a positive impact in the lives of seniors, we invite you to grow your career with Brookdale.

WHY Brookdale-

Our culture of compassionate and caring extends to everyone, our associates, our residents and their families. Our cornerstones of passion courage, partnership and trust drive everything we do and come to life every day in our communities

If you would like more information, please contact Lisa Powers at [email protected]

Make Lives Better Including Your Own. If you want to work in an environment where you can become your best possible self, join us! You’ll earn more than a paycheck; you can find opportunities to grow your career through professional development, as well as ongoing programs catered to your overall health and wellness. Full suite of health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans are available and vary by employment status.

Full Time Benefits Eligibility

• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Associate assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Referral program
• Early access to earned wages for hourly associates (outside of CA)
• Optional voluntary benefits including ID theft protection and pet insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays
• Company provided life insurance
• Adoption benefit
• Disability (short and long term)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account
• Optional life and dependent life insurance
• Optional voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity Insurance, and legal plan 
• Tuition reimbursement

Base pay in range will be determined by applicant’s skills and experience. Temporary associates are not benefits eligible but may participate in the company’s 401(k) program.

Veterans, transitioning active duty military personnel, and military spouses are encouraged to apply. To support our associates in their journey to become a U.S. citizen, Brookdale offers to advance fees for naturalization (Form N-400) application costs, up to $725, less applicable taxes and withholding, for qualified associates who have been with us for at least a year.

The application window is anticipated to close within 30 days of the date of the posting.



Education and Experience
High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required. Two to four years experience in commercial kitchen, operation and line cooking, and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certifications, Licenses, and Other Special Requirements
Current ServSafe Certification required. State food service certification required, if applicable. ACF Certified Sous Chef (CSC) preferred.

Management/Decision Making
Applies existing guidelines and procedures to make varied decisions within a department. Uses sound judgment and experience to solve moderately complex problems based on precedent, example, reasonableness or a combination of these.

Knowledge and Skills
Possesses extensive knowledge of a distinct skill or function and a thorough understanding of the organization and work environment. Has working knowledge of a functional discipline. Familiarity with Microsoft software preferred. Basic typing skills are essential. A thorough knowledge of food safety and sanitation, culinary nutrition, and supervisory management is required.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Standing
• Requires interaction with co-workers, residents or vendors
• Walking
• Sitting
• Use hands and fingers to handle or feel
• On-Call on an as needed basis
• Reach with hands and arms
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases and infections
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Exposure to latex
• Ability to lift: Up to 25 pounds
• Possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• Possible exposure to various drugs, chemical, infectious, or biological hazards
• Requires Travel: Occasionally
• Vision

Brookdale is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.



Plans, manages, and coordinates activities of the dining services department at one or more locations, and provides food services for residents and employees.

1. Develops standards for organization and supervision of dining services.
2. Maintains quality dining services within the prescribed budget.
3. Determines quality and quantity of food required; plans menus and controls food costs; may be scheduled to prepare meals.
4. Oversees the food preparation and cooking, to ensure meals are prepared per company procedures.
5. Makes frequent inspections of all work, storage, and serving areas to determine that regulations governing food safety and sanitation are followed.
6. Prepares cleaning schedule, production worksheet and staff schedules.
7. Maintains inventory of food and nonfood items.
8. Selects, orients, and trains new employees in department; effectively delegates authority to dining services staff to ensure effective flow of materials and services.
9. Develops and directs cost control system; prepares and submits department budget to director.
10. Provides nutrition education and counseling for residents; presents dining services education program to dining services and other staff as needed.
11. Ensures safe work procedures are developed and followed, to include those relating to employee injuries, prevention, and infection control.
12. Ensures a continuous quality improvement program is in place and appropriate follow-up occurs.

This job description represents an overview of the responsibilities for the above referenced position. It is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of responsibilities. An associate should perform all duties as assigned by his/her supervisor.