Executive Chef

The Commons; Enid (OK); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Employee Assistance Program

Education Funds and Scholarships

Nurse Aide Training and Certification

Career Ladders- CNA, RN, and Beyond

Clinical Hours For College Students

CPR and IV Certifications

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Job summary

The Commons in Enid, OK is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for our continuing care community. You will oversee daily kitchen activities, ensure high standards of quality, safety, and resident satisfaction.

The role emphasizes menu development, nutrition-aware cooking, staff leadership, and collaboration with dietitians and nursing staff to meet therapeutic diets and resident needs.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressive culinary experience with leadership in senior living or healthcare.
• Culinary degree or formal training; equivalent experience acceptable.
• ServSafe Manager Certification or ability to obtain.
• Knowledge of HACCP, sanitation, infection control, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with therapeutic diets and resident dietary restrictions.
• Ability to collaborate with RD, nursing, and admin teams.
• Experience in menu development, purchasing, and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, food prep, and service to high standards.
• Develop menus balancing resident preferences, nutrition, and dietary restrictions.
• Lead and supervise culinary staff to promote teamwork and service.
• Manage purchasing, inventory, production planning, costs, and waste.
• Collaborate with Registered Dietitian, Dietary Manager, nursing, and admin.
• Plan and execute special events, catered functions, holidays, and elevated dining.
• Maintain compliance with food safety regulations and HACCP.
• Respond to resident/family feedback and participate in dining committees.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Food safety

Menu development

Team training

Sanitation

Dietary knowledge

Communication

Education

Culinary degree

ServSafe Manager

Healthcare dietary knowledge

Tools

Dietary software

Electronic ordering

Microsoft Office

Job description

Executive Chef | Continuing Care Community in Enid, OK | Experience Required

The Commons is seeking an experienced and passionate Executive Chef to lead our culinary operations and deliver exceptional dining experiences for our residents! The ideal candidate is a skilled culinary professional with strong leadership abilities, a commitment to food quality and safety, and a passion for creating nutritious, enjoyable meals.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and meal service while maintaining high standards of quality, presentation, and sanitation.
• Develop menus that balance resident preferences, nutritional needs, therapeutic diets, and dietary restrictions.
• Lead, train, and supervise culinary staff to promote teamwork, efficiency, and exceptional service.
• Manage food purchasing, inventory, production planning, food costs, and waste reduction.
• Collaborate with the Registered Dietitian, Dietary Manager, nursing staff, and administration to meet residents' nutritional needs.
• Plan and execute special events, catered functions, holiday meals, and elevated dining experiences.
• Maintain compliance with food safety regulations, HACCP principles, infection‑control practices, and applicable healthcare standards.
• Respond professionally to resident and family feedback and participate in dining committees and food‑service meetings.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive culinary experience, preferably in senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or institutional dining, with at least 2 years in culinary leadership or kitchen management.
• Culinary degree or formal training preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• ServSafe Manager Certification or ability to obtain within the required timeframe.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, HACCP, infection control, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with therapeutic diets, texture‑modified and mechanically altered foods, and resident‑specific dietary restrictions.
• Ability to collaborate with Registered Dietitians, Dietary Managers, nursing, administration, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience in menu development, production planning, purchasing, inventory, food‑cost management, and waste reduction.
• Ability to coordinate special events, catering, holiday meals, and elevated dining experiences.
• Strong leadership, organization, communication, problem‑solving, and resident/family relations skills, including participation in dining committees and food‑service meetings.
• Proficiency with dietary software, electronic ordering systems, Microsoft Office, and basic reporting tools.
• Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and special events as needed.
• Ability to meet commercial kitchen physical requirements and pass required background checks and health screenings.

We offer competitive pay relative to experience. All full‑time employees are eligible for benefits including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education Funds and Scholarships
• Nurse Aide Training and Certification
• Career Ladders‑ CNA, RN, and Beyond
• Clinical Hours For College Students
• CPR and IV Certifications
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Earn Better With Us | Realize the Value of 100% Employee Ownership

We are 100% employee‑owned by members of the community we serve through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). We can impact the total value of your compensation in 4 significant ways:

• We pay future employee‑owners competitive wages based on their experience and provide pathways for career advancement.
• We allow you to access up to 50% of your net earned wages the following day when you need cash immediately.
• We offer an 401(k) with matching so that you can begin wealth‑building today
• More remarkably, we create a future reward for every eligible team member at no cost so you can live comfortably when your working days are over.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

#IND4

Our Team

At The Commons, our staff strive to serve like Christ by providing an environment where physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are nurtured. We pride ourselves in the positive environment we have created both in staff‑resident relationships and in our staff‑to‑staff dynamic! Day to day activities are far more enjoyable when you have a great team!

To add on top of our impressive facility, we are conveniently nestled between a beautiful duck pond and Enid’s most popular local businesses and shopping centers- This has made community involvement so easy! Once a week, we host a Pre‑K intergenerational program, where residents have parties with the school children, enjoy story time together, play lots of games, and have a load of fun. Apart from this program, we also host a number of vibrant events, concerts, and cooking/baking contests that our community joins us for! This environment, paired with great leadership, is what draws people to work at The Commons.

The Commons is an Equal Opportunity / Aff…

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, race, color, veteran status, religion, sex, or national origin.