Sous Chef

Highgate Senior Living; Portland (OR); On-site; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking community dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors through exceptional culinary experiences. This full-time Sous Chef position is perfect for passionate food creators who want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment. You'll collaborate with a team to craft innovative menus that cater to the diverse needs of residents, ensuring that every meal is both nutritious and delightful. With opportunities for growth and a focus on well-being, this role offers a unique chance to thrive in a fulfilling culinary career while fostering a true sense of community. If you are ready to ignite your passion for cooking and serve others, this is the opportunity for you.

Benefits

Flexible Compensation Package

Good Benefits Package

Opportunities for Internal Promotions

Supportive Work Environment

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age with relevant culinary experience.
• ServeSafe certified or willing to obtain certification.

Responsibilities

• Implement the food and beverage program for residents.
• Provide a culinary experience that nourishes both body and soul.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Menu Creation

Food Safety Awareness

Communication Skills

Leadership Capability

Adaptability

Teamwork

Calm Under Pressure

Business Acumen

Understanding of Dementia

Education

Culinary Education

ServeSafe Certification

Job description

Full-Time Position Available
Includes one weekend day
$20-$24/hour

LOVE YOUR WORK. JOIN OUR TEAM.

A community, not a facility. As thought leaders in the industry, we take a positive, holistic approach to senior care and encourage independence, as people are happiest when they can make their own choices. We provide opportunities for physical activity, social engagement, intellectual stimulation, spiritual involvement, and fun. We treat our residents and our team members like family. This opportunity will allow you to positively impact the quality of life for over 700 seniors and their families.

SOUS CHEF

Are you passionate about food? Do you nurture those you care for through your cooking? Do you believe creating food is both a science and an art? If so, maybe this is an opportunity for you. We are looking for the right person to work with our culinarians to implement the food and beverage program for our residents. We specialize in assisted living and memory care. Highgate Senior Living's mission is to devote ourselves to help each resident live a life of purpose and each of us plays a crucial role in doing so. We operate communities in the western US and are seeking the right Sous Chef to join our team. Come help us create an environment that promotes a sense of well-being and the feeling of true community in a gracious, homelike setting. This position is fulltime and is responsible to help provide a culinary experience for our residents that engages all five senses in the most pleasant ways to nourish both the body and the soul.

The successful candidate will be motivated by service, an organized and detail-oriented individual with a positive and self-motivated attitude. You must have good communication skills and be willing to work hard. This can be a great opportunity for those chefs that have a passion for food creation and are looking for a new industry with an exciting career path. If you are tired of long nights, spending all weekend at work, and a high stress work environment, this may be just the change you need to keep that passion ignited. Our industry needs heart driven, committed professionals that enjoy working in service to others while sharpening their skills and knowledge necessary for a long term, deeply satisfying profession. This is a great opportunity to train for the next step in your culinary career. We support internal promotions for our team members. We also evaluate a person’s unique skill sets and recognize different levels of professional experience when considering candidates for the role.

SKILLS NEEDED:

• Confidence to engage with seniors, individually and in groups, with different physical and cognitive ability levels
• Advanced culinary skills that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and thoughtfulness
• Solid safety awareness in work habits and the ability to promote a safe work environment in the kitchen
• Menu creation skills that incorporate both proper nutrition and good diversity combined with creative flair
• Awareness of food safety, infection control, and cleanliness standards
• Finely developed skills with varied cooking techniques and the desire to teach and train others these skills
• Calm demeanor in times of pressure and the ability manage the environment during stressful situations
• Business acumen to help manage culinary labor, purchasing and procurement, and equipment maintenance
• Team player with ability to develop strong working relationships along with customer service focus
• Ability to adapt/respond quickly to the needs and preferences of our residents
• An understanding or the willingness to gain an understanding of the various forms of dementia and how to help residents with dementia still live with purpose
• Leadership capability to help motivate and manage teams of people

RELATABLE EXPERIENCE:

• Experiences where you have been instrumental in the production and delivery of a culinary program
• Past culinary roles where you have been asked to deliver highest quality service
• Culinary opportunities you had that include serving seniors or other vulnerable populations
• Previous culinary service-based positions in healthcare, hospitality, or hotels
• Prior volunteer work or other work with vulnerable groups of people
• Internships and special programs or assignments that have honed your culinary skill set
• Leadership roles in the culinary profession

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. At least 21 years of age
2. A combination of education and experience that supports Sous Chef status
3. Current negative TB test
4. Knowledgeable in, or can quickly learn, various regulatory standards for the kitchen
5. Willingness to learn how to work in a healthcare/assisted living environment
6. ServeSafe certified or able to obtain within 60 days of hire
7. Ability to pass criminal record/background check
8. Good time management skills
9. Must be able to work well independently with little oversight

As an organization we offer our team members a good benefits package, the ability to be heard, have their opinions count and the opportunity to innovate. Our compensation package will be flexible for this role based on the credentialing, tenure and skill sets each candidate brings for consideration. The starting hourly wage range for this position is $22.00 to $27.00 per hour. A passion for your work and a commitment to serving others are essential job qualifications. This is an opportunity to work in a booming industry that is constantly evolving and is making a positive impact for seniors every day. We are a healthcare company and being vaccinated against COVID-19 is preferred. If you want to learn more about this opportunity, please reach out to connect with us.