Executive Chef - Senior Living

Grace Management Inc; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO (Paid Time Off) and Holiday Pay

Daily pay

401K with employer match

Short and long-term disability

Referral Bonuses

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Grace Management, Inc. is seeking an Executive Chef for Inspirations of Northbrook to lead dining services, supervise kitchen staff, and ensure compliant, high‑quality meals within budget.

The role requires Serv-Safe certification, strong leadership, menu planning, vendor relations, and strict dietary safety practices in a healthcare setting, with a focus on resident‑centered service. You will coordinate with the Dining Services Director and help maintain a warm, family‑oriented environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with training in food service.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Serv-Safe certification required.
• Two years minimum experience in food service management, preferably in a health care setting.
• Able to cook and follow standard recipes.
• Physical ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to pass drug testing and background check.

Responsibilities

• Oversee dietary department in all aspects.
• Purchase foods and supplies; manage inventories.
• Print production sheets; pull recipes for cooks.
• Prepare meals according to planned menus, including special diets.
• Follow standardized recipes and diet orders.
• Maintain safe and sanitary dietary department.
• Direct and instruct dietary personnel.
• Schedule hours and assign duties to dietary staff.
• Check food and supplies for next meals.
• Participate in events planning and preparation.
• Maintain equipment and reorder items as needed.
• Participate in required meetings and training.
• May participate in weekend Manager on Duty (MOD).
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Skills

Experience in food service management

English language proficiency

Record keeping and menu planning

Staff scheduling knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Culinary degree or RD/CDM preferred

Serv-Safe Certification

Job description

At Inspirations of Northbrook, we are dedicated to enriching the lives of our residents through compassionate care and unwavering support. We are seeking individuals who share our commitment to creating exceptional living experiences and who are eager to contribute to a supportive, family-like atmosphere. When you join Inspirations of Northbrook, you become an integral part of a team that values making a positive difference every single day. If you are driven by empathy and excellence, we invite you to bring your talents to our welcoming community.

Full-time benefits include:

• PTO (Paid Time Off) and Holiday Pay: Take advantage of paid time off to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Daily pay: Get paid daily, providing you with financial flexibility and control over your earnings.
• 401K with employer match: Plan for your financial future with our 401k program.
• Short and long-term disability: Financial security while you recover from an injury that puts you out of work
• Referral Bonuses: Refer qualified candidates and earn rewards
• Tuition Reimbursement: Invest in your education with our support
• Employee Assistance Program: C onnecting our employees with resources for handling personal challenges

Summary of Duties of the Executive Chef

The Executive Chef position oversees all aspects of dining services and supervises back of the house cooks, prep cooks, and utility workers in conjunction with the Dining Services Director. The Executive Chef assures that the kitchen and associates meet all regulatory requirements and maintains quality food service within budget.

Essential Functions of the Executive Chef

• Responsible for dietary department in all its aspects.
• Purchase foods and supplies; Inventories and supervises storage of incoming food and supplies.
• Prints production sheets; prepares and pulls recipes for utilization by cook team.
• Prepares meals according to planned menus, including any special diet requirements.
• Follows standardized recipes and special diet orders.
• Maintains safe and sanitary dietary department.
• Directs and instructs dietary personnel.
• Assists and directs daily scheduled cleaning duties.
• Serves food according to portion control.
• Schedules hours and assigns duties to dietary associates.
• Check food and supplies for next meals.
• Participates in special events planning and preparation.
• Maintains equipment, including dishes, cookware, utensils, supplies, and reorders items when needed.
• Participates in required meetings, training, and associate programs.
• May be required to participate in weekend Manager on Duty (MOD).
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Non-Essential Functions of the Executive Chef

• Supports and participates in the resident centered activity programs.
• Participates in projects or committees as assigned.
• Attends all associate meetings including in-service education and associate functions, as requested by supervisor.
• Assists in variety of tasks involving residents as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• High school Diploma or GED at minimum with some specialized training in food service.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Continued education in food service preferred including RD, CDM, or Culinary Degree.
• Serv-Safe Certification required.
• Two years minimum experience in food service management preferably in a health care setting.
• Be free from communicable disease.
• Completion of drug testing and criminal background check upon hire and upon request of supervisor.
• Must be able to cook and follow standard recipes.
• Physical requirements include bending, standing, lifting, stooping, sitting, stretching, carrying, and walking; and the ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Must have manual dexterity to peel, cut, and prepare different types of food; Ability to work with a variety of kitchen machinery.
• Ability to accept constructive input as to the quality of your meals/cooking.
• Ability to relate to residents and associates in a courteous and diplomatic manner under all circumstances.
• Familiarity with restaurant or cafeteria-style organization in regard to food preparation and service, purchasing, staff scheduling, food, and labor cost control as well as quality control.
• Experience in record keeping and menu planning.
• Able to relate to residents and associates in a courteous and diplomatic manner under all circumstances.
• Adhere to and carry out all policies and procedures.

There is no greater way to elevate your career than by contributing your passion and skill to a senior living community. Grace Management, Inc. is committed to helping nurture a sense of belonging by helping you grow professionally. The quality of our communities is determined by the quality of our employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.