Executive Chef

VIVA Retirement Communities; Vaughan; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Team meals

Vacation

Sick pay

Job summary

V!VA Retirement Communities seeks anExecutive Chef in Vaughan to lead kitchen operations, mentor the culinary team, and drive the VIVAlicious program. You will plan menus, manage budgets, and ensure top quality meals for Community Members.

The role emphasizes food safety, staff development, and delivering exceptional dining experiences in a senior living setting.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of kitchen/culinary management experience.
• Red Seal Certification required.
• Experience in managing multiple kitchens/serveries.
• Ability to control food cost and menu development.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and culinary team to deliver meals.
• Develop 5-week menu plans aligned with Canada’s Food Guide.
• Manage kitchen budgets and labor, and explain variances.
• Ensure proper food handling, labeling, storage, and temperature logs.
• Maintain high hygiene and safety standards.
• Collaborate with Culinary Services Manager to deliver superior service.
• Contribute to the VIVAlicious program quality and presentation.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Budgeting

Menu development

Customer service

Communication

Problem solving

Flexible hours

Education

Red Seal Certification

Job description

Find your opportunity to Make Today Great!

If creativity, innovation, service and a chance to make a real differencein peoples’ lives are important to you, wewant you on our team. Please see below for current job opportunities. While we thank allrespondents, only those underconsideration will be contacted.

Executive Chef

Would you like to fill the time withfulfillingwork for Seniors?

Join a company that believes in Making Today Great!

Work for a Premier Retirement Community and employer in Vaughan

Be a part of a team that shares a passion for making a positive impact and see why we are Happier Here!

Enjoy competitive salary and health benefits, team meals, vacation, sick pay and more!

You.

You have a passion to raise the bar in the retirement industry. You’re an energetic, motivated leader who inspires others to deliver the highest standards of performance, hospitality, and customer service. You thrive in a fast-paced culinary environment and bring creativity, innovation, and strong people leadership to everything you do. If service, excellence, and making a real difference in people’s lives are important to you — we’d love to hear from you.

Us.

What do you get when a team of experienced industry professionals combine their passion and decide it is time to raise the bar in the retirement living industry? You get V!VA Retirement Communities. At V!VA, we aren’t about grand statements or lofty ideals. We are a group of Canadians committed to bringing the right mix of people together to inspire each other and deliver the highest standards of customer service and performance in the retirement industry. At V!VA we put people first. We are looking for just the right person who shares V!VA’s mission – Making Today Great!

The Career.

As the Executive Chef, you will assume full responsibility for kitchen operations — overseeing your culinary team and directing the preparation of all meals within the Community. Reporting to the Community Director, you will be empowered to manage all aspects of the kitchen while continuously improving the dining experience, quality standards, and team environment.

You will play a key role in delivering the V!VAlicious Program and ensuring meals are delicious, nutritious, and consistently exceptional for our Community Members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Commit to and implement the key components of the V!VAlicious program
• Select and develop recipes to attract and satisfy potential and existing Community Members
• Manage kitchen within budget allowance for both expense and labour; actively participate in the annual budget process and reconcile monthly explaining all variances
• Create 5 week menu plans that incorporate the Canada’s Food Guide
• Work closely with the Culinary Services Manager to deliver superior service to the Community Members
• Assists in Team Member supervision, optimizing individual and team performance through effective leadership, mentoring, and direction
• Actively participate in the Orange Dot Program by living the V!VA values and acknowledging others for doing the same
• Establish food presentation techniques and quality standards
• Standardize production of recipes to ensure consistent quality; also adjust or adapt recipes to accommodate specific dietary needs, whenever possible
• Adhere to all proper handling, labeling, and storage protocols for all foods
• Properly maintain documentation of all temperature charts and records
• Ensure proper equipment maintenance and operations; and
• Maintain impeccable personal hygiene as well as high work, health and safety standards

Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of Kitchen/Culinary Management experience
• Preferred experience in the Health Field or Retirement Home Industry.
• Red Seal Certification required
• Kitchen management and protocols experience a definite asset.
• Must have experience with operating multiple kitchens/serveries
• Previous experience with control food cost, menu development, and development of culinary team required
• Must be innovative and creative in menu ideas for adult population
• Strong customer orientation to older adults
• Ability to identify problems and resolve them quickly and efficiently
• Must possess solid leadership and communication skills
• Positive attitude, enthusiasm and energy
• Able to bend, stretch, sit and stand for long periods.
• Able to lift a maximum of 50 lbs.
• Ability to work flexible hours and some weekends.

V!VA Retirement Communities welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Successful applicants will be required to show proof of eligibility to work in Canada for the next 6 months.

V!VA Retirement works and operates in the vulnerable sector and the well-being of our community members and team members is important. For this reason, V!VA Retirement Communities requires that all new Team Members are vaccinated for COVID-19.

Accommodation, including for those who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 due to religious or medical reasons, will be provided in accordance with V!VA Retirement’s obligations under the OntarioHuman Rights Code, as amended from time to time, and theAccessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, as amended from time to time.

Additional Information

• We use AI tools in screening applications
• Vacancy Status: New Role