Sous Chef

Hawthorn Senior Living; Sandia Heights (NM); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawthorn Senior Living in Sandia Heights, NM, seeks an experienced cook to prepare nutritious, appetizing meals from scratch. You will work with a team to ensure smooth, safe kitchen operation, following Hawthorn menus and portion control. Cross-training in other roles is possible as directed by the Community Executive Chef.

You will read recipes, maintain logs, and uphold sanitation standards while delivering high-quality meals and attentive resident service in a busy environment.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Culinary Arts Degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain logs, reports, and records.
• Prepare meals following Hawthorn Senior Living menus and recipes.
• Follow Hawthorn sanitation standards and safety procedures.
• Oversee kitchen setup and serving carts.
• Ensure timely, attractively garnished servings.
• Assist in menu planning, ordering, and inventory as needed.

Skills

Culinary Arts

Institutional cooking

Recipe reading

Sanitation knowledge

English communication

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Culinary arts degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheet basics

Job description

Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

To prepare nutritious, appetizing, and attractive meals from scratch, while working as a team with other food services members to provide smooth, efficient, and safe operation of the kitchen area. All policies and procedures of Hawthorn Senior Living must be followed, including following Hawthorn menus and portion control requirements. This position is considered a universal employee worker and will be crossed trained in other positions as directed by the Community Executive Chef.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & BEHAVIORS

• Must be 18 years of age
• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Culinary Arts Degree or equivalent experience.
• Two (2) years of experience in institutional or full-service restaurant cooking.
• Ability to read and prepare recipes provided by Hawthorn Senior Living.
• Knowledge of and ability to conform to food service sanitation practices.
• Ability to maintain logs, reports, and records.
• Possess computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Maintains food handlers permit as necessary to fulfill state or provincial regulations.
• Maintains CPR and first aid certification as necessary to fulfill state or provincial regulations.
• Meets state or provincial health related requirements (as applicable for position).
• Embodies a patient and creative attitude with the ability to “think outside the box.”
• Demonstrates a commitment to and respect for all individuals.
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with residents and staff.
• Builds on basic learning and carries it from one situation to another.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision making.
• Asks questions and seeks assistance.
• Takes responsibility to eliminate the source of problems.
• Ability to prioritize and organize multiple work duties.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, taking into consideration body language, filters, listening, paraphrasing and questions with co-workers and residents of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrates ability to work efficiently and pleasantly in an extremely busy work environment, to deal with difficult situations in a calm manner and be a team player.
• Ability to work under time constraints and meet department deadlines.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees all Kitchen Staff when the Executive Chef is not on duty.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regular, on-site, attendance and punctuality is required as scheduled.
• Takes responsibility for maintaining current knowledge of the Hawthorn Senior Living Employee Handbook.

• Adheres to all Company policies, procedures, and standards.
• Review menus and daily food production worksheets for instructions.
• Prepare meals following Hawthorn Senior Living menus and recipes.
• Practice Hawthorn Senior Living portion-control standards.
• Follow safe food-handling procedures.
• Ensure that food, supplies, and appropriate personnel are available for the meal planned.
• Oversee preparation and set-up of serving carts.
• Serve nutritious food, attractively garnished in a punctual manner.
• Follow proper procedures for covering, labeling, dating, and storing food in a timely manner.
• Complete leftover logs.
• Ensure Temperature logs are completed at required time (Cooler, Freezer, Production Sheets, Dishwasher).
• Performs all job responsibilities with 100% honesty and integrity at all times. There is no tolerance for fabricating or falsifying any reports that are required in this position.
• Follow Hawthorn Senior Living sanitation standards by effectively cleaning while working, including the preparation, and serving areas, pots and pans, kitchen surfaces, walls, and floors using appropriate cleaning schedules and charts.
• Focus on resident satisfaction and resolve any food-complaint issues as needed.
• Oversee the Community Food Services staff and overall kitchen operation in the absence of the Community Executive Chef.
• Ensure that all Cooks and Food Services staff are wearing appropriate, clean, and neat uniforms.
• Assign tasks as needed and assist in the set-up of special functions.
• Perform administrative duties including menu planning, ordering, receiving, invoicing. processing, inventory, end-of-the month report, staffing, and payroll if required.
• Always treat residents, potential residents, their families, staff, and guests with dignity and respect
• Performs other duties as assigned by Community Executive Chef.
• May be assigned to any other job function in the Community on a relief basis.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs all work assigned for the agreed-upon salary, accepting no additional payment or non-perishable gifts from residents, vendors, or others.
• Use timekeeping system to report hours worked on a daily basis, as well as the start and stop times of your meal periods.
• Meets the assigned work requirements of the job.
• Adheres to dress/appearance code. Changes in attire may be dictated by special occasion or weather conditions. If you have questions, check with your Community Executive Chef.
• Promotes resident advocacy and demonstrate excellent customer service at all times.
• Serves as a role model for all employees by displaying a responsible, cooperative, and positive attitude.
• Represents the Company and the community in a professional, courteous, and friendly manner when in the public.
• Understands safe and proper chemical use and adheres to safety protocols. This includes using personal protective equipment when necessary.
• Attend education and training classes as necessary to fulfil company training requirements and or state regulations applicable to the position.
• Maintain personnel, resident, and business proprietary and/or confidential matters/material in strict confidence with management of the company (and/or other company staff as needed).

• Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre‑employment background checks, employment verification, and reference checks, as permitted by law. Hawthorn Senior Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
• At Hawthorn Senior Living, we offer competitive compensation and a robust benefits package designed to support our employees' well‑being. Benefits may include paid time off; medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage; and supplemental life insurance. Eligible employees may also participate in a 401(k) plan with a company‑determined match and have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Beyond benefits, we are proud of our unique culture and enjoy celebrating our team throughout the year.