Senior Chef - Senior Living / Washington, UT

Ovation in; Washington (UT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

401(k) Retirement Plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Supplemental Insurance Options

Legal Insurance

Pet Insurance

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Ovation by Avamere is seeking a Senior Chef to lead culinary operations across independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities in Washington, UT. You will plan menus, manage staff and budgets, and ensure compliance with safety and health standards.

The role requires 3–5 years of culinary management experience, a culinary degree, and ServSafe Manager certification. CPR/BLS active; CDM/CFPP preferred.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree from an accredited institution or equivalent experience.
• Must hold ServSafe Manager certification; CDM/CFPP preferred.
• 3-5 years of culinary management experience in senior living, hospitality, or healthcare.
• Proficient in knife skills, large-batch cooking, recipe standardization and menu planning.
• Active CPR/BLS certification required.

Responsibilities

• Create rotating, seasonal menus for senior living facilities.
• Ensure meals meet dietary guidelines, nutritional standards, and state requirements.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor culinary staff.
• Lead food committees and resident council meetings to gather feedback.
• Manage food and supply costs within budget; oversee ordering and inventory.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, storage, and equipment per ServSafe and health codes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Knife Skills

Large-batch Cooking

Menu Planning

Recipe Standardization

Staff Management

Interpersonal Communication

Patience & Empathy

Food Safety

Budgeting

Education

Culinary Degree

ServSafe Manager Certification

CDM/CFPP Certification Preferred

Job description

Senior Chef

Status: Full-time

Schedule: Varies

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

Job Summary

A Senior 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 senior living facilities.
• Ensure all meals meet dietary guidelines, nutritional standards, and state regulatory requirements for senior living facilities.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor culinary 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.
• 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.
• Proficient knife skills, large-batch cooking, recipe standardization, and menu planning.
• High levels of patience and empathy, strong organizational abilities, and adaptable communication skills.
• Food safety certification and Food Handler State Card required.
• 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