National Director, Nutritional Care and Culinary Services

Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Director, Allied Health and Support Services, the Director of Nutritional Care and Culinary Services provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for nutritional care, dietary services, and culinary programs across Long‑Term Care Homes and Retirement Communities.

The role is accountable for advancing evidence‑based, resident‑centred nutritional care and dining services that promote health, safety, dignity, choice, cultural responsiveness, and quality of life. This includes leadership oversight of Registered Dietitians, Registered Dietitian Consultants, and Dietary Consultants, ensuring consistent, high‑quality, and compliant nutritional care delivery across the organization.

The Director leads the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of professional standards, best practices, quality improvement initiatives, policies, programs, and procedures related to nutritional care and culinary services. This includes fostering integrated, interdisciplinary approaches to nutrition assessment, therapeutic diets, menu planning, food safety, and dining experiences that align with regulatory and organizational priorities.

As a senior operational leader, the Director collaborates closely with interprofessional teams, operational leaders, and key stakeholders to drive consistency, clinical excellence, and continuous improvement. Through mentorship, consultation, and evidence‑informed practice, the role supports high‑quality care delivery and contributes to the organization’s vision of ensuring everyone in Canada has access to the care and support they need to live their best lives.

This role requires frequently business travels across Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and to the Markham Head Office.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic leadership for nutritional care and culinary services, in partnership with long‑term care and retirement community leaders, to advance quality, safety, and resident experience priorities.

• Lead and support Registered Dietitian Consultants, Dietary Consultants, and Registered Dietitians to ensure evidence‑informed, person‑centred nutritional care across all homes.

• Collaborate with clinical, operational, and regional leaders to establish integrated nutritional care and dining practice frameworks aligned with professional standards and regulatory requirements across Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba.

• Champion person‑centred dining models that support resident dignity, autonomy, cultural preferences, nutritional status, hydration, enjoyment of food, and quality of life.

• Partner with homes and corporate teams to strengthen quality, food safety, infection prevention, and risk management practices through shared oversight, learning, and continuous improvement.

• Promote an outcomes‑focused approach to nutrition and dining that balances safety, regulatory compliance, resident choice, rights, and trauma‑informed practice.

• Support clinical and operational leaders through strategic program development, coaching, mentorship, and consultation related to nutritional care, menu development, and dining services.

• Provide enterprise‑level guidance on policy development, and regulatory interpretation related to dietetic practice, nutritional care, and food services.

• Enable consistency and scalability by developing standardized processes to support nutrition screening, assessment, care planning, care transitions, and discharge.

• Foster a collaborative, just, and learning‑oriented culture grounded in accountability, interdisciplinary teamwork, and resident and family engagement.

• Support accreditation, inspections, and quality assurance activities through shared responsibility for sustained regulatory compliance.

• Leverage nutritional, quality, safety, and resident experience data to inform decision‑making and drive system‑level improvement.

• Develops strong teams through mentorship, coaching, and professional development.

• Drives performance beyond minimum standards to deliver exceptional nutritional care and dining experiences.

What we’re looking for:

• Registered Dietitian (RD) with active registration and good standing with the applicable provincial regulatory authority is required.

• Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience overseeing nutritional care and/or dietary services within a healthcare or seniors’ care setting; long‑term care experience is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic leadership, integration, and performance oversight of nutrition, dietary, and culinary programs supporting resident health, safety, and quality of life.