Job Details

Cook, Full-Time Independent Living Community

Supervisor: Executive Chef

FLSA Status: Hourly, non-exempt

Date Approved: September 2025

Overall Job Purpose

To prepare nutritious, appetizing, and attractive meals, while working as a team with other Food Services members to provide smooth, efficient and safe operation of the kitchen area. All policies and procedures of the Community must be followed, including menus and portion-control requirements.

Minimum Job Qualifications and Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Must be 18 years of age
• Culinary Arts Degree or two (2) years' experience in institutional or full-service restaurant cooking preferred
• Ability to read and prepare recipes, in careful detail, as provided by the company
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with Food Service sanitation practices
• Ability to courteously work with staff and residents in resolving food service problems
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with residents and staff
• Ability to work with little supervision and maintain a high level of performance and customer service
• Meets state related requirements (as applicable for position)
• Ability to work in a team setting and be a team player
• Maintain a positive, respectful, and professional approach with coworkers and residents
• Ability to keep all business and operations information confidential
• Possess excellent customer service and organizational skills
• Ability to work under time constraints and meet department deadlines
• Ability to follow and adhere to policies, procedures and standards
• Satisfactorily pass company's and state regulated criminal record clearance, health screening and TB clearance (if applicable)

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Review menus and daily food production worksheets for instructions
• Prepare meals following community menus and recipes
• Practice community portion-control standards
• Follow safe food-handling and storage procedures
• Ensure that food, supplies, and appropriate personnel are available for the meal planned
• Serve nutritious food, attractively garnished in a punctual manner
• Follow procedures for covering, labeling, dating, and storing food and complete leftover logs
• Ensure temperature logs are completed at the required time (Cooler, Freezer, Production sheets, and Dishwasher)
• Follow company sanitation standards by effectively cleaning while working, including the preparation, and serving areas, pots and pans, kitchen surfaces, walls and floors using appropriated cleaning schedules and charts
• Focus on resident satisfaction and resolve any food-complaint issues as needed
• Assist with the set-up of special functions
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor
• May be assigned to any other job functions in the community on a relief basis

Other Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform all work assigned for the agreed-upon salary, accepting no additional payment or non-perishable gifts from residents, vendors, Community management, or others
• Meet the assigned work requirements of the job. Regular attendance is required
• Serve as a role model for all employees by displaying a responsible, cooperative, and positive attitude
• Represent the community in a professional, courteous, and friendly manner
• Adhere to dress/appearance code. Changes in attire may be dictated by special occasion or weather conditions. If you have questions, check with your supervisor
• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and standards
• Follow specified procedures regarding the handling of contaminated material encountered in accidents or injuries on the Community premises
• Maintain personnel, resident, and business proprietary and/or confidential matters/material in strict confidence with management of the company (and/or other company staff as needed)
• Maintains current food handlers permit and other certifications as necessary to fulfill state regulations, including minimum annual education requirements to maintain active certification

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Community reserves the right to revise the duties set forth in this job description at its discretion.