Senior Care Kitchen Cook - Nutritious, Timely Meals

OPCO Skilled Management; Lovington (NM); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental

Vision

Paid Time Off

Excellent Compensation

Job summary

Lovington Healthcare is seeking a dedicated cook to prepare meals per the menu, follow safety guidelines, and assist with dietary needs in a long-term care setting.

You will review menus, monitor temperatures, manage supplies, and ensure timely service while adhering to federal, state, and local regulations. Prior kitchen experience in a care facility is preferred; the role offers steady hours and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency preferred.
• Two years as cook in a large-scale cooking operation, preferred.
• One year’s work experience in long term care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepares meal items according to planned menus and standardized recipes; refers to supervisor or dietitian for menu changes.
• Reviews menus, resident census information, production guides, and pre-prep sheets to determine types and quantities of food to be prepared.
• Prepares food according to safe food handling guidelines per policy and regulations; assists with ordering, storage and prep as designated.
• Prepares food in a timely manner to preserve quality and serve meals on time.
• Maintains standards for food preparation and quality of service; uses substitutes when needed and follows recipes.
• Operates kitchen utensils and equipment (blenders, mixer, slicer, steamer, processor, oven); bakes, roasts, broils, and steams items.
• Prepares consistency modified and diet foods; assists with special function meals.
• Completes pre-prep tasks like washing, peeling, and cutting vegetables and fruits; weighs or measures meats for nutrition accuracy.
• Prepares and serves food attractively with gravies and sauces; tastes for palatability.
• Monitors and records food temperatures prior to service.
• Makes menu changes under supervisor direction; uses substitutes with approval.
• Follows proper hand washing, thawing, packaging, labeling, and glove usage; checks temps in refrigerators/freezers.
• Cleans equipment and work area; sweeps and mops floors; handles trash as assigned; washes pots and pans.
• Assumes responsibility for meeting meal schedules and reports to dietary manager or cook in their absence.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Skills

Food preparation

Menu planning

Dietary accuracy

Safety guidelines

Equipment operation

Record temperatures

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Tools

Blenders

Mixer

Food slicer

Steamer

Food processor

Convection oven

Job description

Lovington Healthcare is seeking a dedicated cook to prepare meals per the menu, follow safety guidelines, and assist with dietary needs in a long-term care setting.

You will review menus, monitor temperatures, manage supplies, and ensure timely service while adhering to federal, state, and local regulations. Prior kitchen experience in a care facility is preferred; the role offers steady hours and comprehensive benefits.