Position Summary:

The Lead Cook supports the Director of Culinary Experience by leading food preparation and kitchen execution during assigned shifts. This hands-on role prepares appealing, nutritious, and flavorful meals while helping ensure recipes, production schedules, dietary requirements, quality standards, and service expectations are followed. The Lead Cook provides task-level direction and training to culinary team members, monitors kitchen workflow, and reinforces food safety and sanitation practices. This position works closely with culinary and dining service team members to support a consistent, welcoming dining experience for residents.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Food Preparation & Kitchen Operations

• Prepare and cook meals according to established menus, recipes, production schedules, portion standards, and resident needs.
• Lead food preparation and kitchen workflow during assigned shifts to support timely meal service.
• Monitor food quality, flavor, temperature, presentation, and portioning before and during service.
• Adjust food preparation as directed to accommodate therapeutic diets, texture-modified diets, allergies, and other special dietary needs.
• Assist with receiving, storage, inventory, product rotation, and maintaining appropriate food and supply levels.
• Support catering, special events, resident celebrations, marketing functions, and other community dining needs.
• Ensure culinary equipment is used, cleaned, and maintained properly and report repair needs to the Director. Shift Leadership & Team Support
• Provide task-level direction to culinary team members during assigned shifts.
• Coordinate food preparation assignments and monitor workflow to support efficient service.
• Provide hands-on training and reinforce established recipes, procedures, and quality expectations.
• Communicate staffing, performance, food quality, or operational concerns to the Director.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and excellent service. Food Safety & Compliance
• Follow and reinforce safe food handling, preparation, storage, cooling, reheating, service temperature, sanitation, and cleaning practices.
• Complete required temperature logs, production records, cleaning schedules, and other culinary documentation accurately.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and safe kitchen and food preparation environment.
• Follow health department, company, and other applicable food safety and sanitation requirements. Resident Experience & Service Support
• Support consistent and timely meal service in coordination with dining service team members.
• Respond professionally to routine resident feedback and communicate concerns requiring follow-up to the Director.
• Assist with monitoring food waste and proper use of food and supplies.
• Work evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts as community needs require.
• Demonstrate and uphold Provision Living's mission, values, and culture standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility for culinary or dining service team members. The Lead Cook may provide task-level direction, coordinate kitchen workflow, and assist with hands-on training during assigned shifts. Employee performance, scheduling, corrective action, and other formal supervisory matters remain the responsibility of the Director of Culinary Experience.