Executive Chef I

erickson; Pequannock Township (NJ); On-site; USD 72,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Diversity, inclusion culture

Medical, dental, vision coverage

PTO & volunteer hours

401(k) with company match

On-site medical centers

Education assistance & courses

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Erickson Senior Living’s Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, NJ, seeks an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for a dynamic, multi-venue program serving 600+ covers daily. This hands-on leader inspires teamwork, creativity, accountability and hospitality while upholding exceptional quality and service.

The role partners with the General Manager to drive menu execution, mentor the culinary team, optimize kitchen operations, and deliver an outstanding resident dining experience with

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years Executive Chef experience in a high-volume setting.
• Fine dining experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of à la carte and catering trends with focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls and presentation.
• Good knowledge of PC software and POS systems (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point).

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the culinary team with emphasis on excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Oversee daily culinary operations across multiple dining venues with emphasis on quality, consistency, presentation, and food safety.
• Partner with Food & Beverage leadership to drive menu innovation and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with Health Department, HACCP, and food safety standards; maintain a clean kitchen environment.
• Manage food and labor costs through purchasing, inventory control, scheduling, and waste reduction.
• Maintain a visible presence in dining venues and engage with residents to continuously improve the dining experience.

Skills

Executive leadership

Culinary operations

Menu development

Food safety

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Location: Cedar Crest Village by Erickson Senior Living

$5,000 Sign-on Bonus

We are seeking an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for a dynamic, multi-venue dining program serving more than 600 covers daily. This hands‑on culinary leader will inspire a culture of teamwork, creativity, accountability, and hospitality while ensuring exceptional food quality and service execution. The Executive Chef will oversee daily culinary operations, including à la minute and high-volume production, maintaining the highest standards of quality, consistency, presentation, and food safety. Partnering with the General Manager, this role will drive menu execution, develop and mentor the culinary team, optimize kitchen operations, and deliver an outstanding dining experience through strong leadership and operational excellence.

What we offer

• A culture rooted in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness reimbursements, health coaching, and telemedicine
• PTO and paid volunteer hours (per state regulations)
• 401(k) with 3% company match for team members 18+
• On-site medical centers and health/well-being resources for team members and families
• Education assistance, certification reimbursement, and access to 6,000+ online courses
• Exciting growth opportunities as we continue to expand

Compensation

• Commensurate with experience starting at $85,000.00 annually,plus eligibility for annual bonus

How you will make an impact

• Lead and develop the culinary team, promoting excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Oversee daily culinary operations across multiple dining venues, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, presentation, and food safety.
• Partner with Food & Beverage leadership to drive menu innovation, operational excellence, and an outstanding resident dining experience.
• Ensure compliance with all Health Department, HACCP, and food safety standards while maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment.
• Manage food and labor costs through effective purchasing, inventory control, scheduling, and waste reduction.
• Maintain a visible presence in dining venues, building relationships with residents, and responding to feedback to continuously enhance the dining experience.

What you will need

• Minimum of 3 years Executive Chef experience.
• Fine dining experience a plus.
• Knowledge of ala carte and catering trends with focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls and food presentation
• Good knowledge of PC software and POS systems (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point).

Please note that specific state regulations and requirements may be applicable. These regulations take precedence over the requirements outlined in the job description.

Cedar Crest is a beautiful 130-acre continuing care retirement community in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. We’re part of a growing national network of communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, one of the country’s largest and most respected providers of senior living and health care. Cedar Crest helps people live better lives by fulfilling our promises of a vibrant lifestyle, financial stability, and focused health and well-being services for those who live and work with us. As part of our team, you'll enjoy flexibility and work-life balance to meet your personal and professional goals, and we are committed to providing you with opportunities to learn and grow.

Erickson Senior Living, its affiliates, and managed communities are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to providing a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.