Cook's Assistant

Cook's Assistant

Do you enjoy spending time in the kitchen? Being around other people? If so, maybe this is an opportunity for you. We are looking for the right person to assist our Chef, Sous Chef and cooks with the preparation and presentation of the culinary 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 Cook's Assistant 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 may be fulltime or parttime and includes assisting in our kitchen with food prep, cooking, serving, sanitization tasks, kitchen laundry, and interacting with our residents.

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 individuals that have a passion for food and are looking for a new industry with an exciting career path. If you want to become a chef or want to grow your career in seniors housing, this is a great option for you. Our industry needs heart driven, passionate professionals that enjoy working in service to others while gaining the skills and knowledge necessary for a long term, deeply satisfying profession. 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 small groups
• Basic culinary skills and comfortability being in the kitchen
• Safety awareness in work habits
• Ability to operate different types of kitchen equipment
• Calm demeanor in times of pressure
• Comfortability to interact with residents that have varying levels of physical and cognitive abilities
• Able to take direction and coaching from others
• 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

Relatable Experience

• Experiences where you have worked in a culinary environment
• Past roles in which you have been tasked with providing excellent customer service
• Jobs you've had that include working with seniors or other vulnerable populations
• Previous service-based positions in healthcare, hospitality, or hotels
• Prior volunteer work or other work with vulnerable groups of people
• Jobs that included completing task lists

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age
• Experience in the kitchen
• Current negative TB test
• Willingness to learn how to work in a healthcare/assisted living environment
• Ability to pass criminal record/background check
• Good time management skills
• 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 $17.00 to 19.00 per hour. Prior experience in culinary is preferred. 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.