Cook

Avamere Skilled Advisors, LLC d/b/a Avamere Living; Tigard (OR); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Health Savings Account / Flexible Spnd

Voluntary & Supplemental Insurance

Job summary

Avamere Living is seeking a Cook at Washington Gardens Memory Care in Tigard, OR to prepare nutritious meals for residents across care levels. You will follow menus, ensure safety and sanitation, and create a warm dining experience that feels like home.

You will adapt menus for dietary needs, maintain strict hygiene, and collaborate with the Dietary/Dining Services Director and nursing staff to align care plans with resident diets. Prioritize resident comfort and respectful, cheerful service.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of cook experience in a hospital or healthcare facility preferred.
• Current ServSafe Manager certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days).
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written directions and to follow recipes and production sheets.
• Requires a current Food Handlers card issued by local Health Department.
• Demonstrated knowledge of high standards of food preparation, sanitation, and safety with on-the-job training.
• Shows initiative and sound judgment in meal setup and using leftovers.
• Competency in operating kitchen equipment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff across departments.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident care information.
• Genuine desire to improve quality of life for seniors.

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 (finger foods, enhanced flavors, flexible dining times).
• Create a calm, structured, inviting dining environment to encourage socialization and appetite stimulation.
• Adhere to ServSafe food safety practices and sanitation standards.
• Keep kitchen, prep areas, and dishwashing stations clean and sanitized at end of shift.
• Monitor and log food and refrigerator temperatures daily for quality control.
• Collaborate with Dietary/Dining Services Director and nursing staff to align care plans with resident diets.
• Maintain high standards of kitchen cleanliness and equipment maintenance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Cook experience

ServSafe certification

Food Handlers card

Attention to detail

Kitchen equipment operation

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Resident-focused care

Job description

Cook

Full-Time and Part-Time

Location: Washington Gardens Memory Care, 9000 SW 91st Avenue, Tigard, Oregon 97223

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 of warmth, patience, enthusiasm, and a calm and cheerful environment.

Benefits

We believe caring for others starts with caring for our own teams. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind-so you can focus on making a difference every day.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. Low individual and family deductible. - Benefits eligible at 30+ hours/week.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with discretionary employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Premium Pay for Holidays worked, conditions apply
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Canopy: Free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs & work/life balance
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) options and CERA (Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account)
• Voluntary & Supplemental Insurance Options: Voluntary Life and AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability, plus Whole Life, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Legal Services.

"At Avamere Communities, we love to celebrate our diverse group of hardworking employees. We value diversity and believe forming teams in which everyone can their true, authentic self is key to our success "We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status."

The company reserves the right to revise the duties set forth in this job description at its discretion.

Arete Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify