Area Executive Chef

Edmonds Landing by Cogir; Edmonds (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Cogir is seeking an Area Executive Chef to oversee culinary operations across multiple senior living communities. The role provides hands-on leadership, direct operational support, and full accountability for culinary performance in the Charlotte, North Carolina market.

Responsible for implementing standardized culinary programs, menu cycles, and ensuring alignment with brand standards and food quality. This role emphasizes visibility and operational engagement rather than remote advisory.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional oversight of culinary operations across assigned communities.
• Ensure consistent execution of menus, recipes, and presentation standards.
• Lead implementation of standardized culinary programs and seasonal menu cycles.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, taste, and presentation.
• Ensure all communities align with company culinary vision and brand standards.
• Conduct weekly on-site visits to each assigned community.
• Work directly alongside kitchen teams on day-to-day operations, production, service flow, plating and presentation.
• Provide real-time coaching and corrective action as needed.
• Identify operational gaps and implement immediate solutions.
• Maintain full ownership and accountability of PRD and menu execution across all communities.
• Monitor purchasing practices, inventory controls, waste reduction initiatives, and ensure consistent execution of menu cycles.
• Oversee all Food & Beverage programs including daily dining services, events and resident engagement initiatives.
• Drive efficiency through batch cooking, equipment utilization and workflow optimization.
• Train and mentor Chef Managers and culinary teams with weekly in-community engagement.
• Support onboarding and development of new culinary leaders and adoption of standardized recipes and cooking programs.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and HACCP documentation across communities.
• Monitor equipment usage, compliance, and performance; leverage data to improve outcomes.
• Maintain a strong, visible presence within each community and support hospitality-driven dining culture.
• Provide hands-on support during staffing shortages, transitions, and openings; assist with recruiting and labor planning.

Job description

Description

The Area Executive Chef is a regional culinary leadership role responsible for overseeing food and beverage operations across multiple senior living communities within the Charlotte, North Carolina market.

This position is a key component of Cogir’s Collective Culinary Leadership Model, designed to elevate dining quality, improve operational efficiency, and standardize culinary execution across communities.

The Area Executive Chef will provide hands‑on leadership, direct operational support, and full accountability for culinary performance across all assigned communities.

Requirements

Culinary Leadership & Standards

• Provide regional oversight of all culinary operations across assigned communities
• Ensure consistent execution of menus, recipes, and presentation standards
• Lead implementation of standardized culinary programs and seasonal menu cycles
• Maintain high standards of food quality, taste, and presentation
• Ensure all communities align with company culinary vision and brand standards

Direct Operational Oversight (Hands-On Leadership)

• Conduct weekly on‑site visits to each assigned community
• Work directly alongside kitchen teams on:
• day‑to‑day operations
• production execution
• service flow
• plating and presentation
• Provide real‑time coaching and corrective action as needed
• Identify operational gaps and implement immediate solutions

This role is expected to be highly visible and operationally engaged, not remote or advisory.

Full Responsibility for PRD & Menu Execution

• Maintain full ownership and accountability of food cost (PRD) performance across all assigned communities
• Monitor and manage:
• purchasing practices
• inventory controls
• waste reduction initiatives
• Ensure accurate and consistent execution of approved menu cycles
• Adjust menus and production practices as needed to meet budget and operational goals
• Partner with procurement and vendor teams to optimize product utilization

F&B Program Ownership

• Oversee and ensure execution of all Food & Beverage programs, including:
• daily dining services
• special events and holiday programming
• resident engagement initiatives
• signature menu offerings
• Support rollout and execution of new culinary initiatives and partnerships
• Ensure consistency of dining experience across all communities

Operational Excellence

• Drive efficiency through batch cooking, proper equipment utilization, and workflow optimization
• Train and mentor Chef Managers and culinary teamstation, and execution standards

Training & Development

• Train and mentor Chef Managers, and culinary teams
• Provide ongoing coaching through weekly in‑community engagement
• Support onboarding and development of new culinary leaders
• Facilitate adoption of:
• standardized recipes
• cooking programs
• kitchen technology systems

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all food safety regulations and company standards
• Maintain audit readiness across all communities
• Reinforce HACCP protocols and documentation standards

Technology & Systems Integration

• Monitor equipment usage, compliance, and performance across communities
• Leverage operational data to improve efficiency and outcomes

Community Engagement

• Partner closely with Executive Directors and community leadership teams
• Participate in resident engagement and special dining events
• Maintain a strong, visible presence within each community
• Support a hospitality‑driven dining culture

Staffing & Operational Support

• Provide hands‑on support during staffing shortages, transitions, and openings
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and developing culinary team members
• Support labor planning and staffing structure optimization across communities