Kitchen - Cook

Cascadia Senior Living•Olympia, WA

15d

About The Position

The Cook helps create a joyful and vibrant community by preparing and serving meals, overseeing food service operations, and ensuring adequate food and supplies are available. The role is responsible for preparing and serving food to residents on schedule, following the menu cycle, maintaining food quality and resident preferences, and keeping kitchen and dining areas clean and safe. The Cook also manages inventory and meal records, coordinates kitchen coverage, communicates relevant food-service and resident observations, and follows applicable safety and emergency procedures. The position supports residents’ dignity, privacy, independence, choice, individuality, and a home-like environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Maintain a current Food Handler’s card.
Education or experience sufficient to meet position requirements or applicable state regulations.
Meet all mandatory health requirements under state regulations.
Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.
Ability to maintain a clean, neat, comfortable, and safe environment for residents, staff, and visitors.
Compassion and a special interest in working with the senior population.
Ability to relate positively and communicate appropriately with residents, families, community members, volunteers, and other employees.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to creatively problem-solve.
Basic computer knowledge and ability, with an aptitude to learn company applications.
Pass a criminal background and fingerprint check.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and overtime, as required by the position.
Knowledge of specialty diets and food textures.

Responsibilities

Prepare food and serve meals to residents within scheduled timeframes.
Follow the menu cycle and record changes or substitutions on the appropriate form.
Clean and maintain a neat, safe working environment, including kitchen and food-service areas.
Comply with state sanitation codes.
Maintain inventory, place food orders, verify received items, and restock kitchen shelves.
Direct food service and dining service functions.
Maintain food quality and sample food to ensure quality before serving residents.
Ensure resident food preferences are known and followed.
Account for staff, resident, and guest meals daily.
Maintain meal service records as required.
Report food-service problems, concerns, and issues appropriately.
Observe and communicate changes in residents’ status, needs, or preferences to appropriate team members.
Record resident information as required.
Avoid loss, breakage, and waste of supplies and equipment.
Coordinate kitchen coverage and work with the Executive Director to develop a schedule that ensures adequate coverage.
Follow fire, life-safety, disaster, security, worker-safety, and other emergency procedures.
Uphold and convey the philosophy of supporting residents’ dignity, privacy, independence, choice, individuality, and a home-like environment.
Attend and participate in required meetings and trainings, and stay current on assigned system tasks and duties.
Perform other tasks and duties as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive compensation based on relevant years of experience and education or certification requirements.
Shift differential for night-shift employees.
Bonus.
Shift coverage bonus offered as needed.
Medical, dental, and vision plans.
Savings and spending accounts for health-care and dependent-care expenses; HSA includes an employer contribution.
Sick time accrual, available for use after 90 days.
Paid time off accrual eligibility after 12 months.
Floating holiday accrual, eligible upon hire.
Holiday pay at 1.5 times normal hourly pay for work on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.
Up to three days of bereavement leave.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Traditional and Roth 401(k) after 12 months and 1,000 hours worked, with semi-annual enrollment and an annual discretionary employer contribution.
Employee Assistance Program.
Cascadia Assistance Fund for financial help with hardships or continuing education.