Director Culinary Experience

Cogir Senior Living; Madera (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Vacation

Employee Assistance Program

Referral Program

Job summary

Cogir Senior Living is seeking a Director of Culinary Experience (Executive Chef) to lead dining services across our communities. You will manage food procurement, menu development, and budgeting while supervising a diverse culinary team.

Successful candidates will have 5+ years in food preparation and 3+ years of progressive kitchen leadership, with Serve Safe Manager certification and strong resident-centric service ethos.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years hands-on food preparation experience.
• At least 3 years of progressive management as an Executive Chef.
• Experience with menu development and events is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen and dining operations.
• Supervise culinary staff (BOH/FOH) including scheduling and performance reviews.
• Plan menus, prepare meals, and assist in back-of-house operations as needed.
• Maintain inventory of food, beverages, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure adherence to health codes and food safety standards.
• Forecast monthly and annual culinary budgets for food, labor, and supplies.
• Collaborate with staff and residents on menus and resident preferences.
• Strive for high resident and family satisfaction.
• Plan, prepare, and execute special events and themed meals.

Skills

Staff management

Budgeting

Menu planning

Leadership

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Culinary education preferred

Serve Safe Manager

Job description

Cogir Senior Living

Cogir Senior Living, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, proudly oversees a network of senior living communities spanning 11 states nationwide. As a trusted leader in senior housing, we are dedicated to growth while maintaining our commitment to exceptional care for our residents and a supportive, growth-focused environment for our team members.

What We Offer

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
• 401K with company match.
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program,
• Generous Employee Referral Program and more.

Position Summary

The Director of Culinary Experience (Executive Chef) oversees the community's dining services operations and the dining experience of our residents. This includes, but is not limited to, food procurement, preparation, and service; menu development; financial management of food, supplies, and labor budgets; hiring, training, and managing dining services team members; inventory control and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the day‑to‑day operations and staffing of the community kitchen and dining venues.
• Manages and supervises all culinary services staff (BOH and FOH), including scheduling, assignment, direction, performance review, hiring, and corrective action consistent with company policy.
• Menu planning and executing meal preparation and events, assisting staff with back and front‑of‑the‑house operations as needed.
• Maintain inventory control of food, beverages, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure that all food is prepared, stored, and served according to company standards and with state and/or local health code requirements.
• Understand and maintain monthly and annual budgets for the culinary services department, including producing written documentation of monthly food, supplies, and labor spending.
• Collaborate with staff and residents to plan and develop recipes and menus tailored to residents' preferences and monthly budgets.
• Ensure resident and family member satisfaction is maintained.
• Responsible for planning, preparing, and executing special events and themed meals.

Requirements

Education and Certifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Culinary education is preferred, or an equivalent combination of experience and education is required.
• Serve Safe Manager (Food Handler Certificate) with an understanding of kitchen sanitation and food codes.

Experience, Competencies, And Skills

• At least 5 years of hands‑on experience in food preparation.
• At least 3 years of progressive management experience as an Executive Chef with an understanding of front‑of‑the‑house operations and service.
• Serve Safe Manager (Food Handler Certification) with an understanding of kitchen sanitation and food codes.
• Experience with restaurant openings is a plus.
• Experience with special events and banquets is a plus.Successful history of building teams and meeting financial goals.
• Creativity and experience in menu development.
• Previous experience working in Independent Living (IL), Assisted Living (AL), Memory Care (MC), Senior Living, or hotel experience is a plus!
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to motivate.
• Compassion for our residents and a strong passion for excellence.

Salary Description

$70,000 - $78,000