Executive Chef - Senior Living

Ovation; Washington; On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

PTO

Holidays pay

401(k)

HSA

FSAs

Supplemental Insurance

Pet Insurance

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Ovation seeks an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations across independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities at Ovation Sienna Hills in Utah. You will design menus, manage staff and budgets, and ensure regulatory compliance to deliver nutritious, engaging dining experiences.

The role emphasizes therapeutic diets, staff training, high food-safety standards, and collaboration with residents to tailor menus. A culinary degree and ServSafe certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of culinary management experience, preferably in senior living, hospitality, or healthcare.
• Culinary degree from an accredited institution (e.g., ACF certified) or equivalent extensive experience.
• ServSafe Manager certification required. CDM/CFPP highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of therapeutic diets (diabetic, low-sodium, renal, dysphagia/pureed).
• Proficient knife skills, large-batch cooking, recipe standardization, and menu planning.
• Patience and empathy essential for memory care residents; strong organizational and communication skills.
• Active CPR/BLS during employment and food safety certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Create rotating, seasonal menus for independent living, assisted living, and memory care residents.
• Ensure meals meet dietary guidelines and state regulatory requirements.
• Adapt menus for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia using visual cues and adaptive dining options.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor culinary staff; conduct regular training and enforce sanitation standards.
• Lead food committees and resident council meetings to gather feedback and adjust menus.
• Manage food and supply costs within budget; oversee ordering, inventory, and waste management.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, proper storage, and equipment maintenance per ServSafe and health codes.

Skills

Culinary management

ServSafe Manager

Therapeutic diets

Knife skills

Education

Culinary degree

Tools

Kitchen equipment knowledge

Job description

Executive Chef

Status: Full-time

Ovation Sienna Hills, 1525 East Ovation Place, Washington, Utah 84780

Job Summary

An Executive Chef in senior living oversees all culinary operations for independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. This includes menu planning, staff management, budget administration, and regulatory compliance to provide high-quality, nutritious, and engaging dining experiences tailored to varying dietary needs.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Create rotating, seasonal menus for independent living (restaurant-style dining), assisted living, and texture-modified or specialized diets for memory care residents.
• Ensure all meals meet dietary guidelines, nutritional standards, and state regulatory requirements for senior care facilities.
• Adapt dining environments and menus to support residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia, utilizing visual cues, finger-food options, and adaptive dining equipment as needed.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor culinary and dining room staff. Conduct regular culinary training and ensure compliance with food safety and sanitation standards.
• Lead regular food committees and resident council meetings to gather feedback. Adjust menus and service styles to maximize resident satisfaction.
• Manage food and supply costs within established budgetary parameters. Oversee ordering, inventory control, and waste management.
• Maintain the highest standards of kitchen cleanliness, food storage, and equipment maintenance in accordance with ServSafe and local health department codes.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications

• 3–5 years of culinary management experience, preferably in senior living, hospitality, or healthcare.
• Culinary degree from an accredited institution (e.g., ACF certified) or equivalent extensive experience.
• ServSafe Manager certification required. Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) or Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP) highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of therapeutic diets (diabetic, low-sodium, renal, dysphagia/pureed).
• Proficient knife skills, large-batch cooking, recipe standardization, and menu planning.
• High levels of patience and empathy (essential for memory care residents), strong organizational abilities, and adaptable communication skills.
• Food safety certification and Food Handler State Card required.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
• A genuine desire to improve the quality of life for seniors.
• Create and uphold an atmosphere of warmth, patience, enthusiasm, and a calm and cheerful environment.
• Must maintain and have an active CPR/BLS during employment.

At Ovation, we believe caring for others starts with caring for our own teams. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind—so you can focus on making a difference every day.

Employees are Benefits-eligible at 30+ hours/week. Coverage begins the 1st of the month following hire

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage – Regence medical plans (PPO & HDHP), Delta Dental (with orthodontia), and VSP vision

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs & work/life balance (Canopy)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Flexible PTO program combining vacation, sick, and holiday time
• Paid Holidays – Six recognized holidays, with premium pay for eligible hourly employees
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Available after 90 days, with discretionary employer match
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Employer contributes up to $600/year for HDHP participants
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Medical, Limited, Dependent Care, and Commuter options
• Supplemental Insurance Options – Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Life & Disability (Sun Life)
• Legal Insurance – Affordable access to legal support for common life needs
• Pet Insurance – Discounted plans through Wishbone
• Employee Discounts – Savings on travel, entertainment, electronics, fitness & more (Tickets at Work)

Ovation by Avamere is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify