Senior Living Culinary Director - Menu Innovator

Artegan; Maple Valley (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Life Insurance & Accidental Death

Short-Term Disability

Critical Illness & hospital insurance

Vacation and Paid Sick Time

Job summary

Artegan's Fountain Court in Washington state is seeking a Culinary Director to lead and innovate in a senior living dining program. You will oversee menu planning, food preparation, and regulatory compliance, ensuring meals that nourish both body and spirit for residents, staff, and guests.

You will build and guide a high-performing team, manage the departmental budget, and maintain strong vendor relations while upholding safety standards and therapeutic dietary requirements.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of culinary leadership experience, preferably in senior living, healthcare, or high-volume institutional settings.
• Strong cooking skills across a variety of cuisines with ability to adapt recipes to therapeutic diets.
• Proven team leadership and staff development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations: plan, prepare, and oversee service of nutritious meals for residents, staff, and guests; include special events.
• Develop menus reflecting resident preferences, therapeutic diets, and state guidelines; conduct monthly food-preference meetings.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise culinary and dining room staff; set expectations and conduct appraisals.
• Own food safety and compliance: maintain a clean, safe kitchen meeting state and federal regulations; conduct sanitation checks.
• Manage the budget: control food and labor costs, manage purchasing, vendor relationships, and inventory.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu planning

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Food cost control

Education

SERV Safe certification

Job description

Artegan's Fountain Court in Washington state is seeking a Culinary Director to lead and innovate in a senior living dining program. You will oversee menu planning, food preparation, and regulatory compliance, ensuring meals that nourish both body and spirit for residents, staff, and guests.

You will build and guide a high-performing team, manage the departmental budget, and maintain strong vendor relations while upholding safety standards and therapeutic dietary requirements.