Chef Manager (CIV)

Civitas Senior Living; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel Perks

Professional Growth

Team Perks

Job summary

Civitas Senior Living in Texas seeks a Traveling Chef Specialist to lead culinary operations across our communities, stepping in as interim Chef Manager or Director of Food & Beverage to maintain dining quality during transitions.

You will train teams, implement Civitas recipes and safety protocols, and support new community launches. This 100% travel role requires adaptability, strong leadership, and a genuine commitment to uplifting elderly dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Culinary expertise with 3+ years in a senior dining or high-volume kitchen setting.
• 2+ years supervisory or food service management experience.
• Willingness to travel continuously across Texas, including overnight stays.
• Residence in Texas required; home base assigned for payroll.
• Knowledge of DHSR dietary regulations and food safety procedures.
• Strong problem-solving and independent decision-making ability.
• Empathy and passion for elevating dining experiences for elderly residents.

Responsibilities

• Deploy across Texas communities to act as interim culinary leader (Chef Manager or Director of F&B) during transitions.
• Train, coach, and mentor community-level teams on Civitas recipes, safety standards, and service philosophy.
• Support kitchen start-ups, initial menu rollout, and staff orientation for new communities.
• Conduct in-person audits of food safety, sanitation, and presentation; collaborate on corrective actions.
• Implement standardized menus and recipes across communities to ensure nutritional and resident-preference alignment.
• Coach teams in real time on food temperatures, resident engagement, and menu availability.
• Collaborate with Regional Chef Specialists, F&B Operations, and leadership to share observations and celebrate wins.
• Travel on short notice to Texas communities as needed and adapt to local kitchens and teams.

Job description

Community: Civitas Senior Living
Address:930 W 1st St #303, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Traveling Chef Specialist — Fuel Your Passion for Culinary Excellence!

At Civitas Senior Living, we celebrate the art of food and the joy of serving others. We empower culinary leaders to make a difference, enhance lives, and create memorable dining experiences — wherever they're needed most. If you thrive on adventure, adaptability, leadership, and the pursuit of culinary excellence, we invite you to join our team as a Traveling Chef Specialist.

Traveling Chef Specialist Job Profile

• On-the-Ground Culinary Leadership: Deploy across our Texas communities to serve as an interim culinary leader — stepping into Chef Manager or Director of Food & Beverage responsibilities during transitions, leaves, or vacancies, ensuring residents never experience a gap in dining quality.
• Standards & Onboarding: Train, coach, and mentor community-level culinary teams on Civitas recipes, order guides, food safety protocols, and our "unreasonable hospitality" service philosophy.
• New Community Launch Support: Support kitchen start-up, initial menu rollout, and staff training for new communities joining the Civitas portfolio.
• Quality & Compliance Audits: Conduct in-person audits of food safety, sanitation, presentation, and service standards; document findings and partner with community leadership on rapid-response action plans.
• Menu & Production Execution: Implement standardized menus, recipes, and order guides on-site, ensuring consistency with nutritional guidelines and resident preferences across every community visited.
• Coaching in Real Time: Utilize Civitas culinary programs (including Table Touch and related hospitality initiatives) to coach community teams face-to-face on food temperature, resident engagement, and menu availability standards.
• Partnership & Communication: Collaborate closely with Regional Chef Specialists, F&B Operations, and community leadership to communicate observations, elevate risks, and celebrate wins.
• Flexibility & Readiness: Travel on short notice to Texas communities in need, adapting quickly to each community’s kitchen, team, and resident population.
• Other duties as assigned, including culinary innovation and community engagement during travel assignments.

Traveling Chef Specialist Job Requirements

• Culinary Expertise: 3+ years of relevant culinary experience; culinary arts background strongly preferred.
• Leadership Skills: 2+ years supervisory or food service management experience, with demonstrated ability to lead and train teams quickly in unfamiliar environments.
• Travel Readiness: This is a 100% traveling role, dedicated exclusively to Civitas' Texas communities. Must be willing and able to travel continuously, including overnight and multi‑day stays as assignments require. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
• Home Base: Must reside within Texas; specific home community/region assigned for administrative and payroll purposes, with travel across the Texas portfolio as business needs dictate.
• Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of DHSR Dietary regulations and completion of the state‑required Food Service Orientation Manual.
• Adaptability: Comfortable stepping into new communities, teams, and kitchens on short notice, with strong problem‑solving and independent decision‑making skills.
• Compassionate Care: Must have empathy and a genuine desire to work with and elevate the culinary experience for the elderly, regardless of which community you’re serving that week.

Benefits of Cooking Up a Career at Civitas Senior Living

• Travel Perks: Mileage/travel reimbursement and per diem for overnight assignments.
• Professional Growth: Career Advancement & Development Opportunities, including exposure to culinary leadership across our entire Texas portfolio.
• Team Perks: Employee Referral Incentives and Flexible Time‑Off Options between assignments.

Did you know?

Civitas Senior Living is a Certified™ Great Place to Work! Join our culinary family, where 90% of our employees find purpose and passion in their work.

Our Culinary Mission Statement:
Passionate Culinary Service. Passionate Cleanliness. Passionate Care.

As a condition of employment at a Civitas Senior Living community, all new hires will be asked to complete a screening process as required by state regulations. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of this process. Residency within Texas is a condition of employment for this role.