Cook Lead

Optimized Senior Living Group; Fairfield (OH); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Full benefits package

Paid training and orientation

Flexible schedules

Growth opportunities

Family-like culture

Wellness programs

Job summary

Optimized Senior Living in Fairfield seeks a Cook Lead – Full Time to guide the Lebanon campus kitchen, planning and preparing home-style meals with attention to nutrition and the resident dining experience.

You will lead food preparation, plating, and kitchen organization, ensuring consistency and quality across meals, with a focus on care, warmth, and hospitality for residents.

Qualifications

• Culinary or professional kitchen experience.
• Restaurant, catering or hospitality background.
• Experience with dietary needs or therapeutic diets is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Prepare daily meals for residents.
• Cook meals that feel comforting, familiar, and restaurant-quality.
• Plate meals attractively to enhance dining experience.

Skills

Culinary experience

Kitchen leadership

Food presentation

Nutrition awareness

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Dietary Services FullTime Paraprofessionals Fairfield, OH, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1168

Salary Range: $22.00 To $25.00 Hourly

Cook Lead – Full Time

Optimized Senior Living – Fairfield

Cook With Purpose. Create Food That Feels Like Home.

At Optimized Senior Living, food is one of the most meaningful parts of our residents’ day. We

believe meals should feel warm, comforting, and thoughtfully prepared — not institutional.

We are looking for a passionate culinary professional to lead the kitchen at our Lebanon

campus and bring creativity, hospitality, and consistency to the dining experience for our

residents.

What You’ll Do

Create Exceptional Home-Style Meals

• Prepare daily meals for residents.
• Cook meals that feel comforting, familiar, and restaurant-quality.
• Plate meals in an attractive and thoughtful way that enhances the dining experience.

Get to Know Your “Guests”

Our residents are like family.

You will:

• Learn resident favorites and personal preferences
• Accommodate dietary needs and therapeutic diets
• Keep favorite treats and snacks available
• Create moments of joy through food.

Lead the Culinary Experience

You will take ownership of:

• Planning meals for all Optimized locations
• Balancing nutrition, variety, and resident preferences
• Baking fresh items for residents to enjoy throughout the week
• Prepare food ahead for your days off to ensure consistency.
• Maintain an organized kitchen with proper food storage and inventory.
• Keep baked goods and snacks available for residents.

Meal Service

Meals are served:

• In resident rooms when needed
• In the shared kitchen/dining spaces
• Across three homes on our Lebanon campus

Presentation and timing matter — you’ll help create a pleasant dining experience every day.

Regulatory & Dietary Standards

Meals must meet the standards outlined in:

You will ensure:

• Sanitation and kitchen standards

Schedule

• Full-time, 7am - 7pm, 3 days a week, every other weekend, No late-night restaurant shifts.

The Ideal Candidate

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Loves cooking from scratch
• Takes pride in presentation and food quality
• Enjoys cooking for the same people and getting to know them
• Wants a stable schedule without late nights

Experience We Value

• Culinary or professional kitchen experience
• Restaurant, catering, private chef, or hospitality background
• Experience with dietary needs or therapeutic diets (helpful but not required)

Most important: a passion for food and caring for people.

Why This Job is Different

Most kitchen jobs focus on speed and volume.

This role focuses on meaning.

Our residents look forward to meals every day. The right cook becomes a central part of their

daily happiness.

You’ll have:

• The chance to cook food people truly appreciate
• A warm environment where relationships matter.

Join Our Team

If you’re someone who believes food is an act of care, we would love to meet you.

Come help us create meals that feel like home.

Why Join Optimized Senior Living?

• Competitive pay and full benefits package
• Paid training and orientation
• Flexible schedules
• Growth opportunities
• Supportive, family-like culture
• Wellness and mental health support

Ready to Apply?

We’re excited to meet professionals who are committed to caring, growing, and living 'above the line.'