Culinary Services Associate

Bizzell Global Ventures LLC; Converse (SC); On-site; USD 29,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Live Health Connect Residences of Spartanburg is seeking a Culinary Services Associate to support daily dining operations for residents in an assisted living and memory care community. You will assist with meal preparation, plating, and service while upholding nutrition, dignity, and resident preferences.

You will collaborate with culinary, wellness, and resident care teams to ensure safe, appetizing meals and a welcoming dining environment that respects dignity and quality of life.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact respectfully with residents, families, guests, and colleagues.
• Ability to read and follow menus, recipes, and dietary instructions.

Responsibilities

• Assist with meal preparation, food assembly, plating, and beverage service per menus and dietary guidelines.
• Serve meals and snacks to residents in dining areas and other locations.
• Provide courteous, professional service to residents, families, and guests.
• Prepare dining areas before service and maintain overall dining room presentation.
• Support a dining experience that promotes resident independence, dignity, and satisfaction.
• Assist with special events and themed dining experiences.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Patience

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe or food handler certification

CPR and First Aid certification

Job description

Description

Live Health Connect (LHC) of Spartanburg, a Bizzell Global Ventures company, is dedicated to providing compassionate care, personalized support, and a safe and welcoming environment for assisted living and memory care residents and their families.

The Culinary Services Associate supports daily dining operations and provides high-quality meal service to residents within the Assisted Living and Memory Care community. This position assists with food preparation, meal service, dining room operations, sanitation, and hospitality while helping create an enjoyable dining experience that supports resident nutrition, dignity, preferences, and quality of life.

Working closely with culinary, wellness, resident care, and other community team members, the Culinary Services Associate helps ensure meals are prepared and served in accordance with established menus, dietary requirements, food safety standards, and individual resident needs. During a typical meal service, this may include preparing the dining room, assisting with food assembly and plating, serving residents, responding to individual dining needs, maintaining sanitation standards, and communicating observed dietary or safety concerns to the appropriate team member.

This position requires a service-oriented individual who demonstrates patience, professionalism, attention to detail, and respect when supporting older adults, including residents living with dementia and other memory-related conditions.

Meal Preparation and Service

• Assist with meal preparation, food assembly, portioning, plating, and beverage service in accordance with established menus, recipes, portion standards, and dietary guidelines.
• Serve meals, snacks, beverages, and refreshments to residents in dining rooms, activity areas, resident apartments, or other designated locations.
• Provide courteous, professional, and respectful service to residents, families, visitors, and guests.
• Prepare dining areas before meal service, including table setup, utensils, beverages, condiments, and overall dining room presentation.
• Support a restaurant-style dining experience that promotes resident choice, comfort, dignity, and satisfaction.
• Assist with special events, holiday meals, themed dining experiences, and community celebrations.

Resident‑Centered Dining Support

• Assist with special diets, allergies, texture‑modified foods, and resident food preferences as directed by culinary leadership or appropriate clinical staff.
• Provide patient, respectful, and encouraging meal‑service support to residents living with dementia or memory‑related conditions.
• Observe resident dining experiences and promptly communicate concerns involving appetite, dietary needs, food preferences, swallowing or meal‑related safety concerns, or changes in dining behavior to the appropriate team member.
• Respond to resident requests within the scope of the position and communicate needs requiring additional assistance to the appropriate department.
• Promote a dining environment that supports resident independence, dignity, safety, and quality of life.

Food Safety and Sanitation

• Maintain kitchen, dining, serving, storage, and food preparation areas in accordance with established sanitation and safety requirements.
• Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, cookware, kitchen equipment, and food‑service materials using established procedures.
• Follow applicable food safety, infection prevention, and safe food‑handling procedures.
• Monitor food temperatures, storage conditions, expiration dates, labeling, and sanitation practices as assigned.
• Properly receive, label, store, rotate, and organize food deliveries and kitchen supplies.
• Maintain food and supplies in designated storage areas to support cleanliness, organization, and food safety.
• Identify and promptly report food safety concerns, sanitation issues, hazards, or potential compliance concerns.

Equipment, Supplies, and Operations

• Safely operate kitchen, dishwashing, food‑service, and related equipment within the employee's training and authorization.
• Promptly report equipment malfunctions, maintenance concerns, and safety hazards.
• Monitor dining supplies, beverages, condiments, and service materials and communicate replenishment needs.
• Support inventory organization and proper storage of food‑service supplies.
• Follow organizational emergency procedures, workplace safety requirements, and community operating procedures.

Compliance and Professional Responsibilities

• Protect resident privacy and maintain the confidentiality of resident information in accordance with HIPAA requirements and organizational policies.
• Follow resident rights, infection prevention, food safety, emergency preparedness, and workplace safety requirements applicable to the position.
• Complete required training, certifications, and professional development within established timeframes.
• Collaborate professionally with culinary, nursing, resident care, housekeeping, leadership, and other community teams.
• Maintain dependable attendance and punctuality consistent with assigned scheduling requirements.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position and operational needs of the community.

Requirements

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact respectfully and professionally with residents, families, guests, and colleagues.
• Ability to provide patient and compassionate service to older adults, including individuals living with dementia or memory‑related conditions.
• Basic knowledge of food preparation, food handling, sanitation, and infection prevention practices.
• Ability to understand and follow food safety requirements and safe food‑storage procedures.
• Ability to read and accurately follow menus, recipes, portion guidelines, dietary instructions, and safety procedures.
• Ability to safely operate kitchen equipment, dishwashing equipment, and food‑service tools following appropriate training.
• Ability to maintain clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen and dining environments.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize and report dietary concerns, resident concerns, safety hazards, or equipment malfunctions.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple responsibilities during meal preparation and service.
• Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate across culinary, nursing, housekeeping, resident care, and leadership teams.
• Ability to remain professional and adaptable during high‑volume meal periods, schedule changes, or unexpected operational needs.
• Ability to work independently within established procedures while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately safeguard resident information.

Required

• Ability to read, understand, and follow menus, recipes, dietary instructions, food safety requirements, and organizational procedures.
• Ability to successfully complete required training related to food safety, emergency procedures, resident rights, and infection prevention.
• Ability to satisfy applicable pre‑employment and employment requirements in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws and regulations.

Preferred

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year of relevant experience in food service, hospitality, restaurant operations, healthcare dining, senior living, or a related environment.
• Experience in assisted living, memory care, healthcare, long‑term care, hospitality, or another senior‑focused environment.
• Experience serving older adults or individuals living with dementia or memory‑related conditions.
• Experience working with special diets, texture‑modified foods, allergies, or other dietary accommodations.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and safe food‑handling practices.
• Food Handler or ServSafe certification, or ability to obtain certification within the timeframe established by the community.
• Basic computer or point‑of‑sale system experience, when applicable to dining operations.
• CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe when required by community policy.

Relevant education, training, and experience that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the responsibilities of the position may be considered.

Resident‑Centered Service Hospitality Food Safety and Sanitation Attention to Detail Compassion and Patience Teamwork and Collaboration Dependability Communication Organization and Time Management Adaptability Safety Awareness Professionalism

This position operates within an assisted living and memory care community and requires regular interaction with residents, families, visitors, and employees. Work is primarily performed in kitchen, dining, food‑storage, resident‑service, and community areas.

The position may involve exposure to hot surfaces, kitchen equipment, cleaning and sanitation products, food allergens, temperature changes, and wet or potentially slippery surfaces. Employees are required to follow applicable safety procedures and use required personal protective equipment when appropriate.

The position may require availability for scheduled shifts that include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, or other periods necessary to support resident dining operations.

Physical Requirements:

The Culinary Services Associate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. The role may require prolonged periods of standing and walking; frequent bending, reaching, and movement throughout kitchen and dining areas; handling food‑service equipment and supplies; and lifting, carrying, pushing, or moving items associated with dining operations.

Specific physical requirements will be administered in accordance with the essential functions of the position and applicable law.

Live Health Connect Residences of Spartanburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.