Culinary Cook | Culinary Chef | Senior Living Cook

Heritage Senior Living•Muskego, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Heritage Senior Living is seeking a dependable, passionate Cook for its Heritage Muskego Senior Living community. The Cook prepares and serves appealing meals for residents and guests, following menus, recipes, production standards, resident preferences, special dietary instructions, and applicable food-safety requirements. The role reports to the Executive Chef and works closely with the culinary team to support daily meal service and special events. It also helps provide a welcoming dining experience by interacting with residents, responding professionally to requests, and communicating concerns to appropriate team members. The Cook maintains clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen and food-preparation areas; follows sanitation and infection-control procedures; labels, dates, rotates, and stores food; monitors inventory and food quality; and reports equipment, maintenance, or safety concerns. The position may include monitoring dishwasher temperatures and chemical levels and completing required department documentation. This role is available full-time and part-time, with AM shift and AM/PM flexible-schedule positions listed. Work schedules may include weekends, holidays, and additional hours as needed. The position requires extended standing and walking, frequent kitchen movements, and regularly lifting, carrying, and moving items up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be provided as required by law.

Requirements

Previous food preparation or cooking experience is required.
Ability to read and follow recipes, menus, food labels, dietary instructions, safety information, and required documentation.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Good judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Strong communication and customer-service skills.
Understanding of, or willingness to learn, sanitation and infection-control practices.
Ability to work collaboratively with coworkers and community team members.
Ability to meet applicable pre-employment, training, and regulatory requirements.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
Ability to bend, reach, stoop, kneel, push, pull, and perform movements needed for food preparation and kitchen duties.
Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to safely handle food, cookware, utensils, kitchen equipment, and cleaning supplies and work around heat, steam, hot surfaces, sharp utensils, cleaning products, wet surfaces, and temperature changes.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Food-service or culinary certification is a plus.
Senior living, healthcare, institutional food service, hospitality, or restaurant experience preferred.
Enjoyment of working with older adults and a positive, team-oriented customer-service mindset.

Responsibilities

Prepare and cook meals according to established menus, recipes, and production standards.
Follow proper portioning, presentation, and serving methods.
Prepare meals according to resident preferences, special dietary needs, and applicable dietary instructions.
Ensure food is prepared and served safely, accurately, and on time.
Monitor food quality, temperatures, appearance, and presentation during preparation and service.
Follow direction from the Executive Chef and Sous Chef regarding daily production and culinary operations.
Assist with food preparation for special events, celebrations, and resident activities.
Provide friendly, attentive service to residents and guests and interact with residents during meal service.
Help monitor dining satisfaction, respond professionally to resident requests, and communicate concerns to appropriate team members.
Collaborate with the culinary team and other departments to support a positive resident experience.
Follow food-safety, sanitation, infection-control, and applicable health department practices and requirements.
Maintain clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen and food-preparation areas and follow cleaning schedules.
Label, date, rotate, and store food products properly to maintain quality and reduce waste.
Monitor inventory and communicate food and supply needs to the Executive Chef.
Monitor kitchen equipment and promptly report maintenance or safety concerns.
Assist with monitoring dishwasher temperatures and chemical levels as needed.
Complete or assist with food-safety, temperature, cleaning, and other department documentation.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance and work a flexible schedule based on resident and community needs.