Executive Chef - Senior Living / Washington, UT

Ovation; Washington; On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical? Health benefits

Paid time off

401(k) retirement plan

Employee discounts

Job summary

Ovation by Avamere is seeking an Executive Chef to oversee culinary operations for independent living, assisted living, and memory care across communities. You will lead menu planning, staff development, budgeting, and regulatory compliance to provide nutritious, engaging dining experiences tailored to residents' dietary needs.

This on-site leadership role requires strong culinary and management skills, a focus on food safety, and the ability to mentor staff while collaborating with resident

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of culinary management experience in senior living, hospitality, or healthcare.
• Culinary degree from an accredited institution or equivalent experience.
• ServSafe Manager certification required; CDM/CFPP preferred.
• Deep understanding of therapeutic diets (diabetic, low-sodium, renal, dysphagia).
• Proficient knife skills, large-batch cooking, recipe standardization, and menu planning.

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/dementia; use visual cues and adaptive dining options.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor culinary staff; enforce food safety standards.
• Lead food committees and resident council meetings; adjust menus to maximize satisfaction.
• Manage food and supply costs; oversee ordering, inventory, and waste.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, storage, and equipment per ServSafe and health codes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Culinary management

ServSafe Manager

CDM/CFPP preferred

Therapeutic diets

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent

Tools

ServSafe

CPR/BLS certification

Job description

Executive Chef

Status: Full Time

Schedule: Varies

Location: Ovation Sienna Hills - 1525 E Ovation Pl, Washington, UT 84780

Apply atwww.TeamAvamere.com

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