Director Culinary Experience

Cogir USA; Turlock, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401K with match

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Cogir USA seeks a Director of Culinary Experience (Executive Chef) to oversee the community's dining services, including food procurement, preparation, service, and menu development, while managing budgets and staff.

You will lead BOH/FOH teams, ensure health code compliance, plan events, control inventory, and collaborate with residents to tailor menus within monthly and annual budgets, all in a supportive, growth‑oriented senior living environment.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years hands-on food prep experience.
• At least 3 years progressive management experience as Executive Chef.
• Experience with menu development and event planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and staffing.
• Supervise culinary services staff, scheduling, performance reviews, and actions.
• Plan menus and events, assist with back- and front-of-house operations.
• Maintain inventory control of food, beverages, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure compliance with health codes and company standards.
• Manage monthly/annual budgets for culinary services.
• Collaborate with staff and residents to tailor recipes within budgets.
• Strive for resident and family satisfaction in dining experiences.
• Plan, prepare, and execute special events and themed meals.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu development

Budget management

Food safety

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Culinary education preferred

Serve Safe Manager Certification

Job description

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.

At Cogir, our culture is rooted in the core values of human focus, creativity, and excellence, which inspire us to continuously improve and achieve excellence in all we do. Join us in our mission to enrich the lives of our residents while building a meaningful and fulfilling career!

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.