Executive Chef

Saint Therese; Brooklyn Park (MN); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Therese in Brooklyn Park, MN, seeks an Executive Chef to lead day-to-day food preparation and dining operations within a senior living community. You will guide a team of cooks and servers, develop flavorful menus, ensure quality, safety, and hospitality, and partner with the Director of Culinary Experiences to create memorable dining experiences for residents.

The role requires ServSafe certification, culinary training, 3+ years of experience, 2+ years in leadership, and strong budgeting,

Qualifications

• Culinary training or extensive prior experience in similar food preparation positions.
• ServSafe Certification required.
• 3+ years professional culinary experience.
• 2+ years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• 1+ years of quantity meal production.
• Experience in menu planning, purchasing, inventory, and food cost control.
• Commitment to hospitality and compassionate service.
• Knowledge of safe, sanitary food handling, and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency with dining services operations and related regulations.
• Excellent listening and communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of Cooks, Servers, and Dishwashers to deliver warm, exceptional dining experiences.
• Welcome new team members with orientation, scheduling, and hands-on training.
• Promote safety and sanitation standards and infection control.
• Create appealing menus balancing culinary creativity with resident preferences and nutrition.
• Introduce innovative dishes and concepts to keep dining exciting.
• Prepare delicious everyday meals and lead memorable events.
• Partner with leadership to manage budgets, inventory, and supplies.
• Develop staffing schedules to control overtime.
• Train staff on food prep, sanitation, and service.
• Share best practices with the team through workshops and professional groups.
• Collaborate in department meetings and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary Skills

Experience in healthcare/senior living

Staff training

Business math

Microsoft Office

POS system

Team coordination

Quantity meal production

ServSafe Certification

Education

Culinary training or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Online purchasing portals

Inventory management software

Job description

Full-Time | Executive Chef

Benefits: Competitive wages, healthcare, dental, retirement benefits, tuition discounts, scholarships, PSLF Eligible Employer, and more.

Pay Range: $27.27 - $37.02 per hour (based experience) *Same Day Pay Available*

The Difference You'll Make

Bring your culinary creativity and leadership to a senior living community where every meal is an opportunity to create connection, comfort, and joy. As our Executive Chef, you'll lead the day-to-day food preparation and dining operations, inspire a talented team, and develop fresh, flavorful menus that reflect resident preferences and nutritional needs. Working closely with the Director of Culinary Experiences, you'll help shape memorable dining experiences-from everyday meals to special events-while maintaining exceptional standards for quality, safety, hospitality, and service.

• Lead, coach, and inspire a dedicated team of Cooks, Servers, and Dishwashers to deliver warm, exceptional dining experiences.
• Welcome new team members and set them up for success through thoughtful orientation, scheduling, and hands-on training when the Director of Culinary Experiences is unavailable.
• Promote a culture of safety and excellence by ensuring sanitation, infection-control, and quality-management standards are followed consistently.
• Create appealing, well-balanced menus that combine culinary creativity with resident preferences and nutritional standards.
• Bring fresh ideas to the table, introducing innovative dishes and dining concepts that keep every experience exciting and relevant.
• Prepare delicious everyday meals for residents and leading memorable culinary experiences for special events.
• Partner with the Director of Culinary Experiences to manage budgets, monitor inventory, and make thoughtful use of supplies and resources.
• Develop staffing schedules that support operational needs while controlling overtime.
• Train staff on food preparation, presentation, sanitation, and service standards.
• Continue growing your culinary expertise through relevant workshops and professional organizations, then share new ideas and best practices with the team.
• Collaborate with colleagues by actively contributing to department meetings, team initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Culinary Training or extensive prior experience in similar food preparation positions.
• ServSafe Certification.
• 3+ years professional culinary experience
• 2+ years in a supervisory or leadership role
• 1+ years of quantity meal production.
• Demonstrated experience with menu planning, purchasing, inventory management, and food cost control.
• Compassion for the elderly and commitment to hospitality, service, and excellence.
• Possesses a comprehensive knowledge of safe, sanitary food handling procedures, preparation methods, merchandising and supervision.
• Possesses a working knowledge of dining services functions and related city, state, and federal regulations.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to use business math concepts.
• Ability to positively manage and communicate change and to model appropriate behaviors to staff and others.
• Strong computer skill/knowledge including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) and online purchasing/ordering portals required.
• Manage POS system, track sales and pull reports.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous healthcare experience
• Previous management experience
• Culinary Arts degree or certification from an accredited culinary program
• At least 3 years of culinary leadership experience in senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or a continuing care retirement community.
• Experience working with older adults and residents requiring therapeutic or texture-modified diets.
• Experience managing dining operations across multiple levels of care.

Do Ordinary Things with Extraordinary Love

Join Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park, a Top 200 Workplace, and build meaningful relationships with seniors in a well-established, vibrant community. Work alongside a dedicated care team, support residents across care settings, and be part of a mission-driven organization committed to exceptional, person-centered care.

Our Oxbow Lake campus includes 142 independent living, assisted living, and memory care apartments, along with 64 long-term and transitional care suites.

About Saint Therese

Saint Therese is a faith-based, nonprofit senior living organization with more than 60 years of experience providing compassionate, person-centered care. We serve communities in Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio and provide home care, outpatient therapy, and wellness services throughout the Twin Cities.

Saint Therese is an EEO/AA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.