Cook

Avamere Skilled Advisors, LLC; Saint Helens (OR); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

The Avamere Skilled Advisors, LLC in Saint Helens, OR is seeking a part-time Cook to prepare nutritious meals for residents across care levels. You will follow dietary restrictions, maintain sanitation, and create a home-like dining experience.

Responsibilities include executing daily menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, adapting recipes for special diets, ensuring ServSafe standards, logging temperatures, and collaborating with the Dietary/Dining Services Director and nursing staff to

Qualifications

• Two to three years of Cook experience, preferably in hospital or healthcare setting.
• Current ServSafe Manager certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days).
• Ability to read, write, and follow directions with attention to detail for recipes and production sheets.
• Requires a current Food Handlers card issued by local Health Department.
• Demonstrates high standards of food preparation, sanitation, and safety; on-the-job training included.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ensuring meals are visually appealing, properly seasoned, and served at the correct temperature.
• Prepare alternative menu options and snacks for residents with changing appetites.
• Adapt recipes to meet dietary needs (low-sodium, diabetic-friendly, vegetarian, texture-modified).
• Accommodate dining challenges of memory care residents with appropriate textures and timing.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

ServSafe Manager certification

Food Handlers card

Job description

Cook

Type: Part-Time

Shift/Schedule: Various schedule, Weekend availability needed

Wage: $18.89-24.65/hr DOE

Attendance bonus: The perfect attendance bonus in a pay period will be $100.00 for a full-time employee and $75.00 for a part-time employee.

Location: Avamere at St Helens - 2400 Gable Road, St Helens, OR 97051

Job Summary

The Cook will be responsible for preparing nutritious, flavorful meals for residents across varying levels of care. You will ensure compliance with dietary restrictions, maintain impeccable sanitation standards, and create a warm, dignified dining experience that feels like home.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Execute daily menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ensuring food is visually appealing, properly seasoned, and served at the correct temperature.
• Prepare alternative menu options and snacks as needed for residents with changing appetites.
• Adapt recipes to meet specific dietary needs (e.g., low-sodium, diabetic-friendly, vegetarian, and texture-modified diets like puréed or mechanical soft).
• Understand and accommodate the unique dining challenges of memory care residents (e.g., finger foods, enhanced flavors, and flexible dining times).
• Create a calm, structured, and inviting dining environment that encourages socialization and appetite stimulation.
• Adhere to strict food safety, handling, and storage regulations (ServSafe guidelines).
• Ensure the kitchen, prep areas, and dishwashing stations are cleaned and sanitized at the end of every shift.
• Monitor and log food and refrigerator temperatures daily to guarantee quality control.,
• Maintain a resident-first approach, actively seeking feedback and building relationships to understand individual preferences.
• Collaborate with the Dietary/Dining Services Director and nursing staff to ensure care plans align with resident diets.
• Maintain the highest standards of kitchen cleanliness, food storage, and equipment maintenance in accordance with ServSafe and local health department codes.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications

• 2–3 years of Cook experience: Hospital or Healthcare facility experience preferred.
• Current ServSafe Manager certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written directions and pay close attention to details in order to follow and calculate recipes and production sheets, and to pay constant attention to cooking and the timing of foods.
• Requires a current Food Handlers card issued by local Health Department
• Demonstrated knowledge of high standards of food preparation, sanitation, hygienic methods of food preparation and storage, and safety with formal on-the-job training, and approximately one year of experience in quantity food preparation in order to have the necessary technical skills to maintain high standards of food preparation.
• Demonstrates initiative and sound judgment in setting up meals and utilizing leftovers.
• Demonstrates competency in operating kitchen equipment.
• Interpersonal skills are necessary to establish effective relationships with department workers, supervisors, and with other departments.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information.
• A genuine desire to improve the quality of life for seniors.
• Create and uphold an atmosphere