Executive Chef

Hawthorn Senior Living; Maynard (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawthorn Senior Living in Maynard, MA, seeks an experienced Executive Chef to lead the community kitchen. You will oversee menu planning, staff supervision, and from-scratch meal production for residents seven days a week, ensuring quality, budget adherence, and safety.

You will collaborate with the Community Managers and Regional Chef, maintain strong resident relations, and uphold Hawthorn standards of cleanliness and service in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Culinary Arts Degree or a minimum of five years quality, high-volume cooking.
• Prior management experience preferred.
• Certified in Serv-Safe/ Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.

Responsibilities

• Regular oversight of kitchen operations to produce three meals daily for residents.
• Hire, train, supervise, motivate, and discipline kitchen staff to maintain quality and safety.
• Ensure compliance with ServSafe HACCP and other food-safety standards; manage budgets and inventories.
• Plan menus, monitor food costs, and meet time constraints for production and events.
• Collaborate with Community Managers and Regional Chef to maintain cleanliness and quality standards.

Skills

Management experience

High-volume cooking

English communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Culinary Arts Degree

Serv-Safe HACCP Certification

Job description

Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

Ensure the Community’s kitchen produces three (3) high quality, great tasting, well presented and nutritious meals every day, 365 days per year, made from scratch for the Community’s residents while remaining on budget in a clean and safe kitchen environment. Providing leadership for kitchen staff by inspiring and motivating each employee to perform successfully.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & BEHAVIORS

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Culinary Arts Degree or a minimum of five years quality, high-volume cooking.
• Prior management experience preferred.
• Certified in Serv-Safe/ Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.

• Embodies a patient and creative attitude with the ability to “think outside the box.”
• Demonstrates a commitment to and respect for all individuals.
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with residents and staff.
• Builds on basic learning and carries it from one situation to another.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision making.
• Asks questions and seeks assistance.
• Takes responsibility to eliminate the source of problems.
• Ability to prioritize and organize multiple work duties.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, taking into consideration body language, filters, listening, paraphrasing and questions with co-workers and residents of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrates ability to work efficiently and pleasantly in an extremely busy work environment, to deal with difficult situations in a calm manner and be a team player.

Ability to work under time constraints and meet department and position timelines.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Yes. Supervises the Community kitchen staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regular, on-site, attendance and punctuality is required as scheduled.
• Takes responsibility for maintaining current knowledge of the Hawthorn Senior Living Employee Handbook and the Culinary section of The Hawthorn Way.
• Adheres to all Company policies, procedures and standards.

• Responsible for the preparation of all Community meals which will be made from scratch and served three (3) times each day, seven (7) days each week. Also responsible for all food served for Community special events, marketing events, and some activities while meeting strict timelines for food production at all times.
• In consultation with the Community Managers, responsible for hiring, training, managing, motivating, and disciplining the Community kitchen’s staff with the goal of ensuring a strong, well-functioning Culinaras. Responsible for demonstrating, instructing, and holding staff accountable to ensure safe food handling practices are followed at all times, including ensuring all staff members are familiar with and practicing ServSafe Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) or provincial equivalent. Executive Chefs in the U.S. must personally be ServSafe certified and Executive Chefs in Canada must have the provincial Food Safe Certification. These certifications must be completed no later than ninety (90) days from start date in this position.
• Ensures that the Community kitchen is within food and labor budget established for the Community through careful planning, purchasing of food supplies, inventory control, maintenance of daily log and food cost computation forms.
• Directly serves coffee to the Community residents at least four (4) times during meals each work week to ensure Culinary staff is producing the quality of food expected and to hear directly from the residents any concerns that they have had with the meals served.
• Meets with the Community residents in a group setting at least on a monthly basis to determine residents’ food concerns and determine ways food menu items can be adjusted to meet residents’ satisfaction. Ensure all communications with residents are professional and service oriented.
• Works closely with the Regional Chef to ensure the Community kitchen is operating within Hawthorn’s standards of cleanliness, food costs, inventory control, and quality food production.
• Responsible for producing an alternate menu choice for dinner and supper meals that is tailored to meet residents’ satisfaction while ensuring that the alternate menu choice complies with established food costs.
• Participates in weekly management meetings with other Community Management Team members and Community Sales, if applicable, to ensure that all food-related items will be produced for any upcoming events or activities within the Community and that all food items necessary for marketing purposes will be prepared when needed. Meet with the Activity Coordinator as needed to plan for and produce activities-related food items.
• Performs mathematical calculations necessary to order supplies and convert recipes.
• Uses computer and relevant software provided for Hawthorn-managed Communities when necessary to complete job tasks.
• Ensures that all positions within the Community kitchen are operating within the timelines Hawthorn has established to ensure timely production of meal service to residents.
• Ensure that all Chefs/Cooks and Food Services staff are wearing appropriate, clean, and neat uniforms.
• Performs all job responsibilities with 100% honesty and integrity at all times. There is no tolerance for fabricating or falsifying any reports that are required in this position.
• As part of the management team, the Community Executive Chef must be a 100% team player with the other members of the Community Management Team, staff, the Regional Director of Operations, and Regional Chef.
• The Community Executive Chef must always treat residents, potential residents, their families, staff, and guests with dignity and respect regardless of the behavior or situation that arises.
• Must be able to read, write and speak in English when conducting all business-related communications.
• Performs other duties as assigned and in accordance with Hawthorn policies and guidelines.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lend a helping hand in any aspect of the operations if help is needed, while always communicating with the managers on duty as to what you are helping with.

• Performs all work assigned for the agreed-upon hourly wage, accepting no additional payment or non-perishable gifts from residents, vendors, Community Management, or others.
• Use timekeeping system to report hours worked on a daily basis, as well as the start and stop times of your meal periods
• Meets the assigned work requirements of the job.
• Adheres to dress/appearance code. Changes in attire may be dictated by special occasion or weather conditions. If you have questions, check with your Manager.
• Promotes resident advocacy and demonstrates excellent customer service at all times.

• Serves as a role model for all employees by displaying a responsible, cooperative and positive attitude.
• Represents the Company and the community in a professional, courteous and friendly manner, when in public.

• Understands safe and proper chemical use and adheres to safety protocols. This includes using personal protective equipment when necessary.

• Attend education and training classes as necessary to fulfill company training requirements and/or state regulations applicable to the position.
• Maintain personnel, resident, and business proprietary and/or confidential matters/material in strict confidence with management of the company (and/or other company staff as needed).

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work in a commercial kitchen housed in a retirement community.
• Minimal travel is required.

• Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre‑employment background checks, employment verification, and reference checks, as permitted by law. Hawthorn Senior Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
• At Hawthorn Senior Living, we offer competitive compensation and a robust benefits package designed to support our employees' well‑being. Benefits may include paid time off; medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage; and supplemental life insurance. Eligible employees may also participate in a 401(k) plan with a company‑determined match and have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Beyond benefits, we are proud of our unique culture and enjoy celebrating our team throughout the year.