Executive Chef | Kentwood, MI

Cardinal Senior Living; Kentwood (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly Pay

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

401(k) with Company Match

Job summary

Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care in Kentwood, MI is seeking an Executive Chef to lead day-to-day culinary operations, build a strong team, and create a dining experience residents look forward to.

You will oversee staffing, training, food quality, cost control, and compliance with safety standards while coordinating with other departments for special events. Strong leadership and ServSafe certification preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 18 years or older.
• ServSafe certification required.
• Strong knowledge of kitchen sanitation and food safety.
• Experience with commercial kitchen equipment.
• Ability to lead, supervise, and hold a team accountable.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, schedule, coach, and develop dietary staff.
• Hire, onboard, train, and manage performance.
• Oversee daily kitchen and dining room operations.
• Ensure food quality and resident satisfaction.
• Manage inventory, ordering, par levels, and cost control.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, labeling, rotation, and temperature logs.
• Post menus and maintain dietary documentation.
• Address special diets and resident nutritional needs.
• Oversee cleaning schedules and kitchen organization.
• Coordinate special events and community functions.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team development

Sanitation knowledge

Communication skills

Education

ServSafe certification

Job description

Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care

4352 Breton Rd. SE | Kentwood, Michigan

Full-Time

Build the kitchen. Lead the team. Make dining one of the best parts of the day.

At Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care, a Cardinal Senior Living community, we’re looking for an Executive Chef who can lead from the front, build a strong culinary team, and create a dining experience our residents genuinely look forward to.

This is not a role for someone who just wants to manage a schedule and order food.

You’ll own the day-to-day culinary operation, develop the team, manage quality and cost, listen to resident feedback, and make sure the kitchen runs with consistency, cleanliness, and pride.

You’ll probably love this role if you like to:

• Lead a kitchen instead of simply work in one
• Build and develop a team
• Create structure, standards, and accountability
• Deliver great food consistently
• Hear directly from residents about what they love and what can be better
• Balance quality with food cost, inventory, waste, and budget discipline
• Jump in and cook when the team needs you
• Partner across departments to make events and special occasions feel special
• Take ownership when something is not working and fix it

What You’ll Own

As Executive Chef, you’ll oversee the full dietary operation at Walnut Ridge, including:

• Leading, scheduling, coaching, and developing dietary staff
• Hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management
• Daily kitchen and dining room operations
• Food quality, resident satisfaction, and meal service
• Inventory, ordering, par levels, and cost control
• Food safety, sanitation, labeling, rotation, and temperature logs
• Menu posting and required dietary documentation
• Special diets and resident nutritional needs
• Cleaning schedules and kitchen organization
• Special events, activities, and community functions
• Resident feedback and continuous improvement
• Pre-shift meetings and team communication
• Stepping in as Cook or Dietary Aide when needed

The expectation is simple:

Run a disciplined kitchen, build a strong team, and create a dining experience residents can count on.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who brings both culinary experience and leadership presence.

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least 18 years old
• ServSafe certification
• Strong knowledge of kitchen sanitation and food safety
• Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment
• Ability to lead, supervise, and hold a team accountable
• Strong organization and communication skills

Preferred:

• 5+ years of food preparation experience
• Previous culinary leadership or supervisory experience
• Experience managing food cost, ordering, and budgets
• CDM or Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
• Senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or high-volume food service experience
• Basic computer skills

What We Offer

• Weekly Pay
• Competitive compensation with annual merit opportunities
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Voluntary benefits including life insurance and short-term disability
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Opportunities to grow with Cardinal Senior Living

Why Walnut Ridge?

At Cardinal Senior Living, our mission is to provide dignity, safety and care to our elderly residents.

Food is a huge part of that experience.

Meals create routine. They create connection. They give residents something to look forward to.

The Executive Chef at Walnut Ridge has the opportunity to shape that experience every single day.

If you’re the kind of culinary leader who wants to build a team, raise standards, own the operation, and create food people are excited to sit down for, we’d love to meet you.