Director of Nutrition & Compliance - Thomas Cuisine

Director of Nutrition and Compliance (Senior Living)

The Director of Nutrition & Compliance ensures that Thomas Cuisine's Real Foods mission is embraced across all units, leading efforts in nutritional excellence, regulatory compliance, and wellness education. This position collaborates closely with leadership to develop and approve menus that meet clinical and nutritional guidelines while optimizing dining experiences. The Director will oversee compliance across all communities, conduct audits, and ensure that regulatory standards are upheld. As the Mealsuite Administrator, the Director will enhance efficiency in meal planning and resident satisfaction, providing leadership for new business development and community openings.

What you will do

Real Foods Champion

• Advocate for Thomas Cuisine's Real Foods mission, ensuring that scratch-cooked, nutrient-dense food is provided across all units and communities.
• Serve as a voice for promoting food as medicine, contributing to efforts aimed at fixing our food system.

Menu Development

• Collaborate with chefs and the hospitality team to develop seasonal and specialty menus that meet dietary standards and nutritional requirements.
• Hold final approval on all menus, ensuring quality, nutritional compliance, and alignment with resident preferences.

Compliance and Education

• Act as the primary resource for wellness education and compliance training across communities, ensuring that policies and procedures are consistently applied and updated.
  Lead educational initiatives to promote understanding of nutritional standards and food safety protocols among staff including that of providing CEU education opportunities for unit level Registered Dietitians and Certified Dietary Managers.
  Act as a preceptor for food service managers seeking a Certified Dietary Managers license.

Mealsuite Oversight

• Serve as the administrator for Mealsuite dietary software, optimizing meal planning, resident satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide training and support to staff to ensure efficient use of the software.

Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Hospitality, Food Service Directors (FSDs), and Certified Dietary Managers (CDMs) to standardize service processes and enhance the quality of care and dining experiences across all communities.

Audits and Surveys

• Lead and oversee audit activities, including mock surveys, to ensure that all communities are prepared for regulatory inspections and consistently meet or exceed safety and compliance standards.
• Use findings from audits to drive continuous improvement in dining and nutritional services.

Business Assessment and Development

• Evaluate new business opportunities from a clinical perspective, advising on the integration of nutritional and dietary requirements to align with operational objectives.

Compliance Resource

• Serve as the go-to resource for FSDs and CDMs on all compliance-related queries, ensuring that dining services consistently meet established standards.
• Regularly update and communicate policies and procedures to ensure that all communities adhere to current regulations.

Clinical Leadership for New Openings

• Lead clinical efforts for dietary services during new community openings, ensuring that all operations meet nutritional and regulatory standards from the outset.
• Assist in the launch of dietary services for new communities in collaboration with vertical and community leadership.

Advisory Services

• Provide expert clinical oversight for Advisory Services partnerships, ensuring that all compliance requirements are met and that nutritional standards are upheld across service lines.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop and approve seasonal and standard menus in line with clinical and nutritional guidelines, working closely with senior and community-level leadership.
• Oversee training programs for FSDs and CDMs to ensure understanding and compliance with service standards.
• Maintain regular communication with senior leadership, including the VP of Senior Living, Senior District Manager, and the VP of Clinical Excellence, to align strategies and report outcomes.
• Serve as interim support during CDM or RD vacancies, ensuring that compliance and service standards remain uninterrupted.

Who you are

• Advanced Degree (BS or MS) in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with current licensure, where applicable.
• Experience with dietary compliance, regulatory standards, and nutritional programming.
• Proficient in using dietary software, particularly Mealsuite, with experience in menu development.
• Proficient with EMR software
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel to different communities, audit dining services, and oversee compliance programs.
• Hands-on involvement in training, audits, and service improvements.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds and perform physical tasks related to kitchen and dining service assessments.
• Ability to travel up to 50% for new openings, advisory services, coverage for open positions, and events.

Who We Are

Founded in 1986, Thomas Cuisine is an award-winning, privately held contract food service company. We advocate the healing power of whole foods and believe in preparing scratch-made cuisine fresh each day. Every Thomas Cuisine team member is an ambassador, carrying out our mission, reflecting our values, and building relationships while "doing the right thing".

What's in it for you

Wage: $95,000 annually plus 10% bonus potential

Benefits:

Full-time roles include:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits with several plan options to choose from!

Generous Paid Time Off and Paid Leave Programs.

Employee referral program.

Access to wellness initiatives, financial planning, mental health assistance, and more.

Our commitment to you

At Thomas Cuisine, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging. We know that this commitment is an ongoing journey, and we will strive to improve and adapt as we grow. Our DEIB commitment is not just a statement but a living part of our company culture.

REAL Food | Genuine Service | Enduring Relationships