SOUS CHEF

Heritage Senior Living; City of Pewaukee (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings opportunities

Training and professional development

Job summary

Heritage Senior Living in Pewaukee, WI is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to lead the culinary team and deliver exceptional dining experiences for residents. You will work closely with the Executive Chef to manage daily kitchen operations and mentor staff while upholding high standards of food quality and safety.

The role emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and a passion for serving older adults, with opportunities to grow your culinary and leadership career within the community.

Qualifications

• Previous food preparation and culinary experience preferred.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Senior living, healthcare, institutional food service, hospitality, or restaurant experience is a plus.
• Passion for serving older adults.
• Ability to train and coach culinary employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Kitchen: oversee daily culinary operations and guide the team.
• Cook & Create: prepare meals per menus and recipes, ensure quality.
• Train & Develop the Team: onboard and coach staff.
• Maintain Food Safety & Quality: uphold sanitation and safety standards.
• Support Culinary Operations: assist with inventory, planning, and records.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer service

Organization

Training/coaching

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: 413 - Heritage Court Waukesha - Pewaukee, WI, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Job Category: Restaurant - Food Service, Sous Chef – Senior Living

Lead the Team. Create Great Food. Make Every Meal Matter.

Heritage Senior Living is looking for a talented, dependable, and hands‑on Sous Chef to help lead our culinary team and create an exceptional dining experience for our residents.

This position combines culinary expertise with leadership. You'll work alongside the Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations, develop team members, maintain high standards for food quality and safety, and ensure residents receive meals they can look forward to every day.

If you're an experienced culinary professional who enjoys cooking, leading others, and making a difference through great food and service, we'd love to meet you!

What You’ll Do

Lead the Kitchen

• Assist the Executive Chef with daily culinary, operational, and administrative responsibilities.
• Provide leadership and direction to culinary team members during assigned shifts.
• Assume the responsibilities of the Executive Chef when the Executive Chef is unavailable.
• Help maintain an organized, professional, safe, and productive kitchen environment.
• Ensure culinary employees follow Heritage Senior Living policies, procedures, recipes, service standards, and food‑safety requirements.
• Set a positive example for professionalism, teamwork, resident service, appearance, and workplace conduct.
• Help identify and address operational or employee concerns and communicate them to the Executive Chef as appropriate.

Cook & Create

• Maintain proficiency in all kitchen stations and assist wherever needed.
• Prepare, cook, portion, plate, and serve meals according to established menus and recipes.
• Ensure food is prepared and presented consistently, safely, and attractively.
• Monitor food quality, preparation, presentation, portioning, temperatures, and timeliness of service.
• Follow resident dietary requirements and established nutritional standards.
• Assist with meals, celebrations, special events, and other community dining experiences.
• Maintain a hands‑on presence in the kitchen and jump in to support the team when needed.

Train & Develop the Team

• Help onboard and train new culinary employees.
• Train team members on food preparation, recipes, plating, presentation, equipment, sanitation, and service standards.
• Become proficient in all kitchen stations and support cross‑training throughout the culinary department.
• Coach employees on proper techniques and help reinforce Heritage Senior Living culinary standards.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and exceptional resident service.

Maintain Food Safety & Quality

• Help ensure compliance with applicable food‑safety, sanitation, infection‑control, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor cleanliness and organization throughout kitchen, food‑preparation, storage, and service areas.
• Ensure proper food storage, labeling, dating, rotation, and temperature‑control practices.
• Help maintain a safe working environment and address or report potential hazards.
• Ensure employees maintain appropriate personal hygiene, uniforms, and professional appearance.
• Monitor kitchen equipment and communicate maintenance or repair needs as appropriate.

Support Culinary Operations

• Assist the Executive Chef with inventory management, ordering, purchasing, and receiving.
• Help maintain accurate department records and required documentation.
• Assist with purchase orders and inventory controls.
• Support menu planning, costing, and pricing as assigned.
• Help monitor food usage, waste, portioning, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and community leadership to support department and resident needs.

What We’re Looking For

• Love cooking and take pride in the quality and presentation of your food.
• Enjoy teaching, coaching, and supporting other team members.
• Are comfortable stepping into a leadership role when needed.
• Can stay organized and focused in a fast‑paced kitchen.
• Understand the importance of sanitation, food safety, and infection control.
• Have strong judgment and problem‑solving skills.
• Lead by example and aren't afraid to jump in wherever you're needed.
• Provide excellent customer service and enjoy interacting with older adults.
• Value teamwork, accountability, and professionalism.
• Are interested in continuing to grow your culinary and leadership career.

Qualifications

• Previous food preparation and culinary experience preferred.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, lead cook, or Sous Chef experience is strongly preferred.
• Senior living, healthcare, institutional food service, hospitality, or restaurant experience is a plus.
• Passion for serving older adults.
• Ability to prepare and present high‑quality, appealing food.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn resident dietary requirements and nutritional programs.
• Understanding of sanitation, food‑safety, and infection‑control practices.
• Strong communication, organizational, and customer‑service skills.
• Ability to train, coach, and provide direction to culinary employees.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with coworkers and community leadership.
• Ability to meet applicable pre‑employment, training, certification, and regulatory requirements.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive pay
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays and/or holiday pay
• Retirement savings opportunities
• Employee assistance and wellness resources
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Leadership development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition programs
• A supportive, team‑oriented work environment
• Meaningful work where you can make a difference every day

Benefit availability and eligibility may vary based on employment status, scheduled hours, location, plan requirements, and other applicable criteria.

Why Heritage Senior Living?

As a Sous Chef in senior living, you're doing more than preparing the next meal.

You'll get to know the people you're cooking for. You'll learn their favorite foods, help celebrate birthdays and holidays, create special dining experiences, and work alongside a culinary team committed to making residents feel at home.

You'll also have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills, train others, expand your culinary experience, and step into greater responsibility when the Executive Chef is away.

For the right culinary professional, this is an opportunity to grow from being a great cook into being a great culinary leader.

Great food. Strong teamwork. Meaningful work.

Essential Functions & Physical Requirements

• Communicate effectively with residents, guests, employees, and community leadership.
• Read and follow recipes, menus, dietary instructions, food labels, safety information, policies, and required documentation.
• Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Bend, reach, stoop, kneel, push, pull, and perform movements necessary for culinary and supervisory responsibilities.
• Regularly lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Safely handle food, cookware, utensils, kitchen equipment, and cleaning supplies.
• Perform hands‑on food preparation, cooking, portioning, plating, and meal service.
• Work safely around heat, steam, hot surfaces, sharp utensils, cleaning products, wet surfaces, and temperature changes.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Work a flexible schedule based on resident and community needs, including weekends, holidays, special events, and additional hours as needed.

Heritage Senior Living is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is subject to applicable pre‑employment, training, and ongoing requirements in accordance with federal and state law.