Lead Cook for Assisted Living Community
About the Role
Mountain Springs Assisted Living Community a 24 bed community is seeking a full-time Lead Cook to oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and help ensure residents receive consistent, high-quality meals. This role supports the dietary team by coordinating meal preparation, maintaining kitchen readiness, and leading staff scheduling and training.
Success in this position means delivering well-planned weekly menus, supporting reliable purchasing and inventory practices, and creating a kitchen environment where team members feel prepared and confident to serve with care and consistency.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain weekly menus that align with dietary needs and meal service goals.
- Plan meal prep needs and coordinate food preparation to support scheduled service times.
- Perform or support grocery shopping by selecting appropriate items, tracking needs, and ensuring availability.
- Schedule kitchen staff shifts and assist with coverage to support smooth operations.
- Train and mentor kitchen staff to support consistent meal quality and service standards.
- Oversee kitchen organization, cleanliness, and safe food handling practices.
- Monitor inventory usage and help reduce waste through accurate ordering and preparation planning.
- Coordinate with team members to ensure timely meal service and effective workflow.
- Maintain accurate records related to food preparation, supplies, and kitchen activities as required.
- Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes and teamwork.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent (or comparable experience).
- 1+ years of experience in a kitchen or food service role, with demonstrated leadership experience.
- Proven ability to create and manage weekly menus.
- Experience with grocery purchasing and inventory awareness.
- Experience scheduling or coordinating staff shifts (preferred).
- Knowledge of safe food handling and basic sanitation practices.
- Comfort using standard kitchen tools and systems used for food service planning and tracking.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to train others in a respectful, inclusive way.
- Reliable time management and the ability to stay organized in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to follow established procedures while maintaining consistent meal quality.
Benefits
- Competitive pay: $20–$25 per hour (based on experience and qualifications).
- Full-time schedule with opportunities for stable, ongoing work.
- Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays (where applicable).
- Health insurance options (where available).
- Retirement savings plan options (where available).
- Wellness-focused benefits and programs (where available).
- Professional development opportunities and growth within the kitchen team.
