Lead Cook/Sous Chef

Can you be a real, true friend? Is it your nature to be open, listen deeply, know your heart, respond genuinely, and care as only a real friend cares? If so, we want to meet you.

Cedarhurst, a regional healthcare provider and true friend of older adults, seeks a service-minded, career-oriented individual to join our team as a full-time Lead Cook/Sous Chef at our Cedarhurst Assisted Living and Memory Care of La Vista community.

As a Lead Cook/Sous Chef, you will have to opportunity to connect with, and positively impact the lives of, our residents daily! You will assist Dining Services Director in managing daily kitchen activities, including overseeing staff, aiding with the menu preparation, ensuring food is of quality and freshness, and monitoring ordering and stocking. Leads kitchen team in the absence of the Dining Services Director. Provides guidance to kitchen staff members, including but not limited to plating food, and food preparation.

As a Lead Cook/Sous Chef, working with the Dining Services Director, you will impact the lives of our residents by –

• Covers shifts in the absence of Director of Dining Services
• Remains current and up to date with all food safety licensing requirements for state, county, and local authorities
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of all dining service shifts and be familiar with individual assignments and resident dining needs
• Develop schedules and place orders as needed
• Follows all local, state, federal, and company policies regarding food handling
• Attends all meetings and training sessions as required
• Assist in ensuring food is properly prepared, portioned and served and monitors all food items to ensure the guidelines for temperature, taste and quality are upheld
• Support all catering, room service, special party needs, marketing functions, etc.
• Assists in orientation and continued training of all kitchen staff
• Other duties assigned by the supervisor
• Exhibit thorough knowledge of and conduct hands-on training of staff on all food service positions and proper food handling
• Works with the DSD to maintain kitchen organization
• Oversees and organizes kitchen stock and inventory levels in the absence of the Dining Services Director (DSD)
• Dependable and able to meet schedule requirements with no restrictions
• Instruct all staff on operation, maintenance, and cleaning of all kitchen equipment
• Assists with proper documentation of temperature logs, refrigeration logs, sanitation logs and cleaning schedules

To become a Lead Cook/Sous Chef, you will need –

• Knowledge of food and restaurant regulations is required
• Great communication and interpersonal skills required along with the heart and passion to work with older adults while providing the best care possible
• Must have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, to be flexible, to work well with many interruptions and have skill in multi-tasking
• Two years’ experience working in culinary production with food & restaurant knowledge – formal culinary training preferred
• Must exhibit and promote a high level of customer service, hospitality, curiosity and friendliness towards all residents, visitors, employees, and the overall community
• Sense of professional curiosity, desire to learn new things, and to find / recommend solutions to problems.

When considering a career with Cedarhurst, please understand that –

• Cedarhurst believes in promoting from within. We seek team members who wish to grow with us.
• Cedarhurst considers the health and safety of its residents, family members, and team members as its highest priorities. All offers of employment are conditioned on completing and passing a background and drug test, participating in mandatory COVID-19 vaccine program, participating in testing requirements (COVID-19 and TB) and using designated PPE when required.
• Our core values describe our expectation that every team member will be Passionate, Trustworthy, Empathetic, Positive, Respectful and Approachable – and in every way a real, true friend of those we serve.
• To be a Cedarhurst team member means you’re devoted to doing The Friend’s Work: In your every effort, you reassure, energize, and inspire older adults in Cedarhurst.
• Cedarhurst believes that its team is its greatest asset. For this reason, we provide our team members with extensive training as well as personal and career development opportunities.
• Cedarhurst offers a competitive benefits package including medical insurance coverage, life insurance, long-term disability coverage and a 401(k) Plan with company match (after 1 year of service).

Salary Range: $18 - $21

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.