Executive Chef

Merrill Gardens; Chester, Northern (Delaware County, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits (medical, dental,

Job summary

Merrill Gardens at West Chester is seeking an Executive Chef to lead the dining program and deliver exceptional dining experiences for residents. This key role combines leadership, menu development, and strict compliance with safety standards to enhance daily life in our senior living community.

You will manage staff, oversee budgets, collaborate with culinary teams, and coach a dedicated dining program to meet regional preferences while maintaining the highest service quality.

Qualifications

• BS or AS in Culinary Arts and relevant state certification.
• 7+ years in food service with 2+ years in a management role.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, storage and handling procedures.
• ServSafe certification and HACCP understanding required.

Responsibilities

• Be the community leader responsible for managing all aspects of the dining program with the highest level of customer service
• Oversee all staffing and inventory/budget control for the community dining program
• Maintain a strong presence in the dining room to ensure quality and resident satisfaction
• Schedule and supervise all food preparation activities
• Establish and prepare menu items from approved recipes and initiate creative menu items for regional and resident preferences
• Oversee training and development of dining program team members.
• Provides accurate and timely reports to management, as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Staff management

Customer service

Menu development

Food quality control

Education

BS or Associates Degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

ServSafe Certification

HACCP Knowledge

Job description

Senior Living Executive Chef

Are you passionate about working with seniors? Are you dedicated to supporting seniors on their wellness journey to ensure they are provided with an atmosphere that values individualism and dignity? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you! Merrill Gardens at West Chester is currently accepting applications for an Executive Chef to help support residents within our beautiful community residents call home.

If you are a compassionate, caring, responsible, and honest individual who genuinely loves working with the senior population, we would love the opportunity to speak with you!

Family means everything to us. From the communities we create to the connections we make with residents, everything we do is rooted in our history as a fifth-generation family business.

We build on that family with the people we hire and the teams they form. As a family company, we can do things differently and for the past 30 years our long-term commitment to team members has been unsurpassed.

We offer our full-time employees:

• Highly competitive pay and comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance).

• Company-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Paid time off – 7 holidays, and 11 vacation days.

• Free daily meal every shift.

• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting!

• Tuition reimbursement for career growth.

• Company-paid short & long-term disability insurance.

• Pet insurance and team member discounts.

• Advance Pay benefit – access wages before payday.

• A stable, growing company with opportunities for advancement!

We offer our part-time employees:

• Free daily meal every shift.

• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting!

• Company-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Tuition reimbursement for career growth.

• Pet insurance and team member discounts.

• Advance Pay benefit – access wages before payday.

• A stable, growing company with opportunities for advancement!

Our Executive Chefs are responsible for:

• Be the community leader responsible for managing all aspects of the dining program with the highest level of customer service

• Oversee all staffing and inventory/budget control for the community dining program

• Maintain a strong presence in the dining room to ensure quality and resident satisfaction

• Schedule and supervise all food preparation activities

• Establish and prepare menu items from approved recipes and initiate creative menu items for regional and resident preferences

• Oversee training and development of dining program team members.

• Provides accurate and timely reports to management, as required.

• Other duties as assigned.

If you are someone with:

• BS or Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, preferred.

• 7-years of food service experience and 2-years management experience minimum.

• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, proper storage and handling procedures.

• Proper certification as required by state and local statutes.

• Ability to complete Merrill Gardens’ Food Service certification courses (i.e. ServSafe) and full understanding of HACCP requirements.

Physical Requirements:

This role requires frequent standing, walking, and manual handling of materials up to 50 lbs. Regular bending, lifting, and reaching are also part of daily responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Consider applying to become an Executive Chef with the Merrill Family of Senior Living Communities!

Yes, You Can have a meaningful Career!

Our mission is to provide an inspiring environment for our residents, families, and team members where every life is defined by the possibilities.

Merrill Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer