Dietary Manager

Overview

The Dietary Manager is responsible for leading the dietary department, ensuring all aspects such as meal planning, preparation, and delivery align with safety, nutritional standards, and individual resident requirements. This role involves coordinating with medical and care teams to provide customized meals compliant with physician directives and regulatory mandates, while overseeing staff and budget management.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and engage in preparing and serving meals that are safe, appealing, and meet specific dietary instructions.
• Maintain food quality standards, control portions, and ensure adherence to approved menus and physician prescriptions.
• Manage the departmental budget, controlling expenses and ordering necessary food and supplies efficiently.
• Organize special meal services for holidays and facility events.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and assess dietary staff, managing disciplinary actions when required.
• Ensure strict compliance with food storage and handling regulations at federal and state levels.
• Manage the processing of diet orders and updates, keeping accurate diet cards and resident records.
• Evaluate residents’ dietary needs including preferences, allergies, and nutritional risks; prepare monthly nutrition notes.
• Develop staff schedules and adjust to cover needs.
• Maintain cleanliness, safety, and sanitation in kitchen and storage areas.
• Conduct routine safety and cleanliness inspections of the dietary department.
• Coordinate dietary operations with nursing and activity teams to support resident wellness.
• Participate actively in Quality Assurance (QA) and Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings.
• Deliver in-service education to dietary personnel.
• Investigate workplace injuries and enforce corrective measures or staff retraining.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Safeguard department security and confidentiality of resident information.
• Visit residents to conduct nutritional assessments, clarify diets, and encourage high-quality food service.
• Inform the Dietitian of any menu alterations and maintain proper documentation.

Supervision

Responsible for full supervision and management of dietary staff, including scheduling, training, performance reviews, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Completion of an approved dietary manager's course compliant with state and federal guidelines.
• At least one year of experience in the dietary department of a long-term care setting is preferred.
• Familiarity with PointClickCare (PCC) software is advantageous.
• Commitment to maintaining required continuing education and licensure.
• Good standing with the Department of Public Health License and Certification Division is mandatory.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent physical activity including standing, walking, reaching, pushing, and pulling.
• Occasional activities such as sitting, climbing, stooping, kneeling, and crawling.
• Capability to lift weights up to 50 lbs.
• Regular use of senses including talking, hearing, tasting, and smelling.
• Visual requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment typically features low to moderate noise levels. Reasonable accommodations can be provided for individuals with disabilities to enable the performance of essential duties.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is committed to equal opportunity employment, considering all qualified candidates without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected classification.