Director Culinary Experience

Cogir Senior Living; Owings Mills (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401K with company match

Paid time off

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

Cogir Senior Living is seeking an Executive Chef (Director of Culinary Experience) to lead the community dining program, overseeing food procurement, preparation, menus, and budgeting. You will manage both back-of-house and front-of-house teams, ensuring quality service and resident satisfaction.

You will develop menus, train staff, and plan special events while maintaining regulatory compliance and cost controls to deliver exceptional dining experiences for residents.

Qualifications

• 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) is preferred or required, with understanding of kitchen sanitation and food codes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen and dining operations.
• Supervise culinary services staff, including scheduling, hiring, and performance reviews.
• Plan menus and execute meal preparation and events within budget.
• Maintain inventory controls for food, beverages, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure all food handling and service meet health code requirements.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Menu development

Staff training

Food safety

Event planning

Communication

Resident-focused service

Education

High school diploma

Culinary education preferred

Job description

THE COMPANY

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.

Job Type

Full-time

Description

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 our residents' dining experience. 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

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

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.