Cook

Kensington Senior Living • Redwood City, CA

8d

About The Position

The Cook prepares appealing, nutritious, and properly portioned food for residents and guests in accordance with production sheets, standardized recipes, preparation methods, portion-control requirements, time schedules, sanitary standards, and serving procedures. The role prepares hot and cold foods, including items for residents with modified diets, and ensures food is transported, handled, labeled, and stored safely.

The Cook works with servers and other kitchen staff, helps manage food and supply inventory, maintains a clean and orderly work area, and performs assigned cleaning and utility tasks. The position also involves attending production meetings, tastings, menu classes, in-service training, and other professional development activities related to nutrition, food safety, culinary skills, and equipment operation.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience in a similar position.
• Excellent verbal skills and communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.
• Knowledge of kitchen equipment and how to use utensils effectively.
• Ability to follow diet instructions and menus, prepare food in quantities using basic methods, and understand seasoning requirements.
• Ability to communicate clearly and proficiently with people of all ages and abilities while respecting their rights and sensitivities and maintaining an energetic, positive attitude.
• Ability to read and write English and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain a clean, well-groomed appearance and comply with the employee handbook dress code.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, evenings, rotating shifts, and occasional overtime.
• Must pass a criminal background check administered in the state of employment.
• Safe food handling certification.
• Ability to stand and walk short and long distances for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and/or carry objects weighing more than 25 pounds.
• Ability to bend at the knees, twist at the waist, and reach above, below, and at shoulder height.
• Ability to concentrate and handle multiple tasks in a kitchen environment with noise, interruptions, and distractions.
• High degree of safety awareness due to potential cuts, burns, falls on wet floors, and quick temperature changes.

Nice To Haves

• Background in senior living or home care.
• High school education.

Responsibilities

• Attend daily production meetings, tastings, and menu classes to understand upcoming meal-period requirements.
• Prepare hot and cold food items for residents, guests, and personnel according to daily menus, production sheets, and recipes.
• Prepare food items for residents with modified diets.
• Prepare food for transport from production areas to dining areas using safe food-handling practices.
• Instruct servers on the proper handling, storage, portioning, plating, and serving of food.
• Assist with labeling and storing bulk food and supply orders upon delivery.
• Label and store ready-to-eat and prepared foods in accordance with safe food-handling and HACCP requirements.
• Assist with regular inventories of food and other supplies.
• Keep the work area and equipment clean and orderly during the shift, and perform assigned closing and periodic cleaning tasks.
• Assist with utility-related tasks as directed by the shift supervisor.
• Attend in-service training with coworkers to stay current on nutrition and dietary needs, safe food handling, culinary skills and procedures, and equipment operation and maintenance.
• Attend required training courses and participate in other professional development activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED