Cook - Part-Time - Senior Living / Spokane, WA

Avamere • Spokane, WA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Cook prepares nutritious, flavorful meals for residents across varying levels of care while accommodating dietary restrictions and maintaining high sanitation standards. The role supports a warm, dignified dining experience and adapts meals and dining approaches to residents’ preferences and needs, including those of memory care residents. This is a part-time, weekend-schedule position at Avamere at South Hill in Spokane, Washington, paying $20.00–$22.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Requirements

• 2–3 years of Cook experience.
• Current ServSafe Manager certification, or willingness to obtain it within 30 days of hire.
• Current Food Handlers card issued by the local Health Department.
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written directions, attend to detail, calculate recipes and production sheets, and monitor cooking and food timing.
• Knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, hygienic food preparation and storage, and safety, supported by formal on-the-job training and approximately one year of quantity food preparation experience.
• Initiative and sound judgment in setting up meals and utilizing leftovers.
• Competency in operating kitchen equipment.
• Interpersonal skills to establish effective relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and other departments.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of resident care information.
• Genuine desire to improve seniors’ quality of life.
• Ability to foster an atmosphere of warmth, patience, enthusiasm, and calm cheerfulness.

Nice To Haves

• Hospital or healthcare facility experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, ensuring food is appealing, properly seasoned, and served at the correct temperature.
• Prepare alternative menu options and snacks as needed for residents.
• Adapt recipes for dietary requirements, including low-sodium, diabetic-friendly, vegetarian, puréed, and mechanical-soft diets.
• Accommodate memory care residents’ dining needs, such as finger foods, enhanced flavors, and flexible dining times.
• Create a calm, structured, and inviting dining environment that encourages socialization and appetite.
• Follow food safety, handling, and storage requirements, including ServSafe guidelines.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen, preparation areas, and dishwashing stations at the end of each shift.
• Monitor and record food and refrigerator temperatures daily.
• Seek resident feedback and build relationships to understand individual preferences.
• Collaborate with the Dietary/Dining Services Director and nursing staff to align care plans with residents’ diets.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, food storage, and equipment in accordance with ServSafe and local health department codes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with low individual and family deductibles; benefits eligibility begins at 30 or more hours per week.
• 401(k) retirement plan with discretionary employer match.
• Paid time off and premium pay for holidays worked, subject to conditions.
• Employee Assistance Program offering free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs, and work/life balance.
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account options, and Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account.
• Voluntary and supplemental insurance options, including life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, whole life, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed