Culinary Specialist

Primrose Retirement Communities • Aberdeen, SD

2d • Remote

About The Position

Primrose Retirement Communities is hiring a Culinary Specialist to drive the execution of Primrose's culinary standards and Artisan Dining philosophy through training, coaching, and operational support. This role partners with community leaders and Regional Operations Managers to influence and strengthen culinary teams, building leadership capability and accountability in areas such as scratch cooking, resident engagement, presentation, standards, sanitation, inventory and cost control, menu execution, and labor efficiency. The Culinary Specialist monitors and audits culinary practices—including purchasing, production, and service—to ensure a high-quality, hospitality-driven dining experience aligned with Primrose standards. This role also supports new community start-ups, helping establish strong culinary operations, team readiness, and a differentiated dining experience from day one. This Culinary Specialist role can be based remotely or out of the Home Office in Aberdeen, SD, with frequent travel to Primrose Communities.

Requirements

• Strong leadership with experience training, coaching, and developing culinary teams, and deep knowledge of best-practice food service systems in independent living, assisted living, and memory care settings.
• Experience in the safe operation and handling of kitchen equipment.
• Knowledge of HACCP, diet modifications, and culinary fundamentals.
• Degree in Culinary Arts or a related field required.
• A current ServSafe certification.
• Five or more years of progressive culinary leadership experience required.
• Willing and able to travel regularly to support multiple communities.

Nice To Haves

• CIA degree or comparable professional training preferred.
• Multi-site, corporate, or executive chef experience preferred.
• Experience in food preparation methods and adapting therapeutic diet menus.

Responsibilities

• Leads food program procurement decisions in collaboration with Regional Operations Managers and community leadership.
• Ensures consistency in culinary execution and dining standards to deliver a high-quality resident experience and strong operational performance.
• Implements and oversee production and inventory control systems.
• Reviews state dietary regulations and partners with community leadership to address survey compliance, staffing, emergency, and illness-related needs.
• Trains, coaches, and audits teams to ensure effective use of inventory systems, kitchen logs, menus, and labor tools.
• Reviews menus and recommends standardized recipes, portioning, and approved substitutions.
• Evaluates and maintains the Primrose food vendor order guide to improve product quality and cost control.
• Audits the overall dining experience, including service, food quality, and ambiance.
• Provides hands-on demonstrations of cooking techniques and presentation standards.
• Partners with Regional Operations Managers to improve budget performance and cost control.
• Develops and oversees preventive maintenance programs for kitchen equipment.
• Establishes consistent standards for planning and executing special events and banquets.
• Collaborates with Dining Directors, Chefs, and Executive Directors to align purchasing, solve operational challenges, and strengthen leadership capability.
• Partners with communities to optimize Point of Sale (POS) system use, ensuring accurate data capture and reporting aligned with culinary operations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior