Cook

Cook

Renewal Falls Recovery Center Cedar Falls, Iowa Full-Time | Opening September 2026

Help Us Build Something Meaningful

Renewal Falls Recovery Center is preparing to open a new residential substance use disorder treatment facility in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in September 2026.

We are seeking a dependable and compassionate Cook to join our food service team. This is an opportunity to become part of a new facility from the beginning and help create a kitchen environment centered on safety, consistency, teamwork, dignity, and hospitality.

At Renewal Falls, meals are an important part of the recovery environment. Nutritious, thoughtfully prepared food can provide comfort, stability, routine, and a sense of community for individuals working toward lasting recovery.

Position Summary

The Cook is responsible for preparing and serving nutritious, appealing meals in accordance with approved menus, recipes, special dietary requirements, and food safety standards.

Working under the direction of the Executive Chef and Sous Chef, the Cook helps maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen while supporting timely meal service for patients and team members. This position requires attention to detail, reliability, professionalism, and a commitment to treating every individual with dignity and respect.

What You Will Do

• Prepare and serve meals according to approved menus, standardized recipes, portion guidelines, and established meal schedules.
• Follow documented special diets, food allergy requirements, dietary restrictions, and other nutritional instructions.
• Take appropriate precautions to prevent cross-contamination and protect individuals with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
• Prepare ingredients by washing, cutting, measuring, mixing, seasoning, and cooking food using approved methods.
• Ensure food is cooked, held, stored, and served at safe temperatures.
• Check food quality, appearance, freshness, and portion sizes before meals are served.
• Assist with meal setup, service, and cleanup.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen, dining area, storage area, and food preparation environment.
• Wash and sanitize cookware, utensils, food preparation surfaces, equipment, and service areas.
• Follow proper food storage, labeling, dating, rotation, thawing, cooling, reheating, and disposal procedures.
• Complete required food temperature logs, cleaning records, production sheets, and other kitchen documentation accurately and on time.
• Assist with receiving, inspecting, storing, and rotating food and kitchen supplies.
• Monitor inventory and notify kitchen leadership when food, cleaning products, or supplies need to be reordered.
• Help minimize food waste while maintaining appropriate meal portions and food quality.
• Follow infection-prevention, sanitation, workplace safety, and emergency procedures.
• Immediately report food safety concerns, equipment problems, spills, injuries, or other hazards to kitchen leadership.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when interacting with patients.
• Protect patient privacy and maintain confidentiality in accordance with facility policy.
• Communicate respectfully with patients, coworkers, and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Provide kitchen coverage during weekends, holidays, or staffing needs as assigned.
• Perform other duties necessary to support safe and effective food service operations.

What We Are Looking For

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous cooking, commercial kitchen, institutional food service, healthcare food service, or high-volume meal preparation experience preferred.
• Experience in a hospital, behavioral health facility, residential treatment center, senior living community, school, correctional facility, or similar setting is a plus.
• Food safety or food protection certification preferred; certification may be required within a designated period after hire.
• Basic knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, food storage, kitchen safety, and cross-contamination prevention.
• Ability to follow menus, recipes, portion instructions, and special-diet requirements.
• Ability to accurately complete food temperature logs and other required documentation.
• Ability to organize tasks and prepare multiple menu items within established meal schedules.
• Dependable attendance and the ability to work assigned shifts consistently.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Strong attention to cleanliness, safety, quality, and detail.
• Ability to communicate calmly and respectfully with patients and team members.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries.
• Commitment to treating every patient and coworker with kindness, dignity, compassion, and respect.
• Ability to successfully complete all required pre-employment screenings, orientation requirements, and ongoing training.

Schedule

This is a full-time, onsite position supporting a 24-hour residential treatment facility. The schedule may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and additional coverage based on facility and patient needs.

Physical Requirements

The Cook must be able to:

• Remain standing and moving throughout the kitchen for extended periods.
• Frequently bend, reach, twist, push, pull, and perform repetitive food-preparation tasks.
• Safely lift and carry food, supplies, and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Work around ovens, stoves, refrigeration equipment, sharp utensils, cleaning products, heat, steam, and changing temperatures.
• Safely operate standard commercial kitchen appliances and equipment.
• Wear required personal protective equipment and follow all kitchen safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Why Renewal Falls?

Joining Renewal Falls means helping build a recovery-centered environment from the ground up. Every team member plays a role in creating a safe, welcoming, and respectful treatment experience.

As a Cook, you will help provide more than meals. You will contribute to the consistency, comfort, and sense of community that can support individuals as they work toward lasting recovery.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Renewal Falls Recovery Center is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.