Cook

Hope Springs Care Center; Montrose (CO); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Hope Springs Care Center in Montrose, CO is seeking a dedicated Cook to prepare, season, and serve nutritious meals for residents, following menus and health regulations. The role emphasizes high-quality food preparation, accurate portioning, and managing kitchen duties in a busy senior dining environment.

You will work under the Executive Chef, supervise staff in their absence, and collaborate with other departments to ensure meals meet dietary needs and taste expectations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Experience in the dining department of a senior care community preferred.
• Ability to work in a hospitalit y/kitchen environment.
• Willingness to follow recipes and health regulations.

Responsibilities

• Handle and prepare food that is palatable, appetizing and attractive.
• Establish practice of serving hot food hot and cold food cold.
• Cook a variety of foods in large quantities.
• Be familiar with seasoning and cooking time required.
• Prepare foods for cooking: vegetables, meat, fish, and poultry.
• Supervise other food service employees in absence of the Executive Chef.
• Follow standard recipes and minimize waste.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and safety.

Skills

Food preparation

Large-quantity cooking

Food safety

Seasoning and flavor

Portion control

Teamwork

Prioritization & multi-tasking

Communication with residents

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Cook

The Cook will prepare, cook, season, and serve adequate, attractive, nutritious, and balanced meals. Meals prepared include meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruit, soups, salads, desserts, breads, and pastries, as specified and scheduled by the menus. The person holding this position is delegated the responsibility for carrying out the assigned duties and responsibilities in accordance with current existing federal and state regulations and established company policies and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Food Preparation Duties:

• Handle and prepare food that is palatable, appetizing and attractive
• Establish practice of serving hot food hot and cold food cold
• Cook a variety of foods in large quantities
• Be familiar with seasoning and cooking time required
• Be aware of cooking characteristics of various cuts of meats, fish and fowl

• Prepare foods for cooking: Peel, wash, trim, and cut vegetables and fruit; wash, cut, de-bone and trim meat, fish and fowl
• Cook food: Bake, roast, stew and steam-cook meats, fish and fowl, basting as necessary to retain flavor; make gravies, stocks, dressings, sauces and soups
• Prepare cold meats, sandwiches, griddle cakes, cooked cereals, and beverages
• Use initiative and judgment in setting up meals and utilizing leftovers to avoid waste
• Follow standard recipes but make independent decisions in line with current experience

• Understand importance of proper food-handling techniques and hazards of improper food handling
• Estimate quantities of food required and apportion servings while monitoring portion-controlled guidelines for individual residents
• Taste, smell, and observe food to ensure conformity with recipes and appearance
• Serve food according to dietary guidelines, checking each tray for completeness and accuracy

Kitchen Duties:

• Comply with meal schedules
• Maintain and use equipment and supplies
• Work cooperatively with other staff and departments
• Wash pots, pans, and other equipment as used

• Responsible for supervision of other food service employees in absence of the Executive Chef
• All other duties as requested

TALENT:

• Executing
• Demonstrates resourcefulness
• Detail oriented and follow through
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task priorities
• Relationship Building
• Work well with people including staff, residents, families
• Enjoy working with older people
• Demonstrates friendliness and enthusiasm
• Have a caring attitude and sincere interest in others
• Demonstrates honesty

Influencing

Communicates clearly and effectively

Strategic Thinking

Displays creativity

Curiosity and desire to learn

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Ability to prepare and cook a variety of foods in large quantities
• Aware of special diets, seasoning requirements, cooking times, temperature controls
• Ability to estimate quantities of food required, limit waste, utilize leftovers while serving attractive, appetizing meals
• Serve safe certification

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: High School Diploma or GED preferred. Experience: Previous experience in the dining department of a senior care community preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Frequent walking per shift
• Frequent standing per shift while preparing and serving food
• Lifting 1-20# frequently, 21-35# occasionally, 36-70# rarely
• Bending and reaching, squatting and kneeling, crawling and climbing
• Extreme hot and cold temperature changes
• Use of large and small kitchen equipment

CLASSIFICATION:

• Non-Exempt

WORK AREA AND ENVIRONMENT:

Kitchen, freezers, refrigerators, loading dock, dining room

STANDARDS:

Standards: State Health Department Regulations

OTHER:

• Reports to Executive Chef

• Department-Dining