Culinary Manager

Reports To: Executive Director / Resident Experience Manager Position Type: Full-Time, On-Site Salary: $50,000 annually About the Role Do you love cooking, creating great meals, bringing people together, and making a kitchen feel like the heart of a home? We want to meet you! The Commons is looking for a creative, organized, and energetic Culinary Manager to lead our kitchen and dining program. You’ll be the person making sure there’s always something good cooking, the kitchen is running smoothly, and mealtimes are something residents look forward to. You’ll oversee our daily food program, from menu planning and food shopping to cooking, meal service, and keeping everything organized. You’ll also work with our Assistant Culinary Manager, staff, volunteers, and residents to make the kitchen a fun and welcoming place to learn, participate, and connect. At The Commons, food is about so much more than what’s on the plate. It’s about sharing meals, trying new recipes, celebrating special occasions, learning new skills, and making friends around the table. We want someone who understands that and is excited to help make it happen. If you’re someone who loves good food, enjoys leading a team, thinks creatively, and isn’t afraid to roll up your sleeves, this could be a great fit! What You’ll Be Doing Running the Kitchen & Making Great Meals Take the lead on the day-to-day kitchen and dining operations at The Commons. Plan and coordinate our meal program, including grab-and-go breakfast and dinner service (no lunch service). Create menus that are delicious, nutritious, affordable, and reflect residents’ tastes, preferences, and dietary needs. Oversee food preparation, cooking, serving, and clean-up. Make sure meals are ready on time and the kitchen runs smoothly. Keep the kitchen and dining areas clean, organized, and welcoming. Find ways to make mealtimes enjoyable, social, and something residents look forward to. Food Shopping, Ordering & Kitchen Operations Take charge of food purchasing, ordering, and inventory. Keep track of supplies, manage food costs, and find ways to minimize waste. Build relationships with food vendors and coordinate deliveries. Create kitchen schedules, routines, and systems that keep things running smoothly. Manage the kitchen budget and track food and operating expenses. Make sure kitchen equipment, supplies, and storage areas are well-maintained. Look for creative ways to make the meal program efficient, affordable, and sustainable. Food Safety & Keeping Things Fresh Make sure the kitchen meets all food safety, sanitation, and health requirements. Establish good food-handling, preparation, and storage practices. Keep an eye on food quality, freshness, and temperatures. Maintain food safety records and coordinate inspections and required certifications. Make sure staff, volunteers, and anyone helping in the kitchen understands and follows food safety procedures. Bringing People Together through Food Find fun ways to get residents involved in cooking, meal preparation, and kitchen activities. Work with the Programming Lead to plan cooking classes, special meals, community dinners, holiday celebrations, and other food-related activities. Help bring our teaching kitchen to life with opportunities for residents to learn, experiment, and try new things. Get to know residents’ food preferences and listen to their ideas. Create opportunities for residents to gather, socialize, and build friendships around food. Bring new ideas, creativity, and a little fun into the kitchen! Leading a Team & Working Together Work closely with the Assistant Culinary Manager to divide responsibilities and keep the kitchen running smoothly. Help recruit, train, schedule, and coordinate kitchen staff and volunteers. Work with the Executive Director, Resident Experience Manager, Programming Lead, and other CCHI staff to coordinate meals and activities. Build relationships with volunteers, families, and community partners who want to get involved. Communicate openly and positively with residents, families, staff, vendors, and volunteers. Develop kitchen systems and routines that can grow along with our community. What We’re Looking For Experience managing a kitchen, restaurant, catering operation, or food-service program. Ideally 5-7 years of experience in culinary operations, hospitality, food service, or a related field. Culinary training, a culinary degree, or food-service management education is a plus. Comfortable planning menus, cooking, managing food orders, and keeping track of inventory and budgets. Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen operations. A natural organizer who can keep multiple things moving without losing sight of the details. Creative and willing to try new recipes, menus, and ideas. A positive, hands-on leader who enjoys working with a team. Comfortable supervising staff and coordinating volunteers. Friendly, approachable, and comfortable working with people of all personalities and abilities. Flexible, dependable, and willing to jump in wherever needed. An interest in helping adults with disabilities build independence, confidence, friendships, and meaningful connections. Comfortable working in a growing organization where things move quickly and no two days are exactly alike. Willing to work occasional evenings and weekends for community dinners, special events, and other programming. Why The Commons? The Commons is more than a place to live. It’s a community where people come together, friendships grow, and everyone has a chance to participate and feel at home. You’ll have the opportunity to build something special from the ground up, put your own creative ideas into action, and make a real difference in people’s everyday lives. If you love food, love people, and love the idea of creating a kitchen that brings a community together, we’d love to have you join us. Let’s get cooking! #J-18808-Ljbffr