Culinary Cook | Culinary Chef | Senior Living Cook

Heritage Senior Living•Middleton, WI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Heritage Senior Living is seeking a dependable, passionate Cook to prepare and serve appealing meals for residents and guests at Heritage Middleton. Reporting to the Executive Chef and working closely with the culinary team, the Cook handles food preparation, meal service, dietary compliance, sanitation, and tasks that support an exceptional dining experience. The role includes preparing meals according to menus, recipes, production standards, residents’ preferences, special dietary needs, and dietary instructions; ensuring food is safe, accurate, timely, and properly presented; and assisting with food preparation for special events and resident activities. The Cook provides friendly, attentive service, interacts with residents during meals, helps monitor dining satisfaction, responds professionally to requests, and communicates concerns to appropriate team members. The role also involves maintaining clean, sanitary, organized kitchen areas; following food-safety, sanitation, infection-control, and health-department requirements; labeling, dating, rotating, and storing food; monitoring inventory and equipment; reporting maintenance or safety concerns; assisting with dishwasher temperature and chemical checks; and completing required department documentation. The position is suited to someone who takes pride in food quality and service, is organized and dependable, can manage competing priorities in a fast-paced kitchen, and enjoys working with older adults. Work includes standing and walking for extended periods; bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; regularly lifting, carrying, and moving items up to 50 pounds; and safely handling food, cookware, utensils, kitchen equipment, and cleaning supplies. The schedule is flexible according to resident and community needs and may include weekends, holidays, and additional hours as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be provided as required by applicable 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 and perform necessary kitchen movements, including bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, pushing, and pulling.
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 to work around heat, steam, hot surfaces, sharp utensils, cleaning products, wet surfaces, and temperature changes.
Ability to work a flexible schedule based on resident and community needs, including weekends, holidays, and additional hours as needed.

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 cooking and pride in food quality, taste, portioning, and presentation.
Ability to stay organized, multitask, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced kitchen.
Positive attitude, collaborative approach, and strong 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 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; interact with residents during meal service and help monitor dining satisfaction.
Respond professionally to resident requests and communicate concerns to the appropriate team member.
Collaborate with the culinary team and other departments to provide a positive resident experience.
Follow food-safety, sanitation, infection-control, and applicable state and local food-service requirements.
Maintain clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen and food-preparation areas, and follow cleaning schedules and infection-control procedures.
Label, date, rotate, and store food products appropriately 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 required food-safety, temperature, cleaning, and other department documentation.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance and communicate effectively with residents, guests, and team members.