Executive Chef | Kentwood, MI

Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care 4352 Breton Rd. SE | Kentwood, Michigan Full-Time Build the kitchen. Lead the team. Make dining one of the best parts of the day. At Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care , a Cardinal Senior Living community, we’re looking for an Executive Chef who can lead from the front, build a strong culinary team, and create a dining experience our residents genuinely look forward to.

This is not a role for someone who just wants to manage a schedule and order food. You’ll own the day-to-day culinary operation, develop the team, manage quality and cost, listen to resident feedback, and make sure the kitchen runs with consistency, cleanliness, and pride. You’ll probably love this role if you like to: Lead a kitchen instead of simply work in one Build and develop a team Create structure, standards, and accountability Deliver great food consistently Hear directly from residents about what they love and what can be better Balance quality with food cost, inventory, waste, and budget discipline Jump in and cook when the team needs you Partner across departments to make events and special occasions feel special Take ownership when something is not working and fix it What You’ll Own As Executive Chef, you’ll oversee the full dietary operation at Walnut Ridge, including: Leading, scheduling, coaching, and developing dietary staff Hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management Daily kitchen and dining room operations Food quality, resident satisfaction, and meal service Inventory, ordering, par levels, and cost control Food safety, sanitation, labeling, rotation, and temperature logs Menu posting and required dietary documentation Special diets and resident nutritional needs Cleaning schedules and kitchen organization Special events, activities, and community functions Resident feedback and continuous improvement Pre-shift meetings and team communication Stepping in as Cook or Dietary Aide when needed The expectation is simple: Run a disciplined kitchen, build a strong team, and create a dining experience residents can count on.

What We’re Looking For We’re looking for someone who brings both culinary experience and leadership presence . Required: High school diploma or equivalent At least 18 years old Serv. Safe certification Strong knowledge of kitchen sanitation and food safety Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment Ability to lead, supervise, and hold a team accountable Strong organization and communication skills Preferred: 5+ years of food preparation experience Previous culinary leadership or supervisory experience Experience managing food cost, ordering, and budgets CDM or Associate Degree in Culinary Arts Senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or high-volume food service experience Basic computer skills What We Offer 💵 Weekly Pay 📈 Competitive compensation with annual merit opportunities 🏥 Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance 🛡️ Voluntary benefits including life insurance and short-term disability 🌴 Paid Time Off 🎉 Paid Holidays 💼 401(k) with Company Match 🚀 Opportunities to grow with Cardinal Senior Living Why Walnut Ridge?

At Cardinal Senior Living, our mission is to provide dignity, safety and care to our elderly residents. Food is a huge part of that experience. Meals create routine. They create connection. They give residents something to look forward to. The Executive Chef at Walnut Ridge has the opportunity to shape that experience every single day.

If you’re the kind of culinary leader who wants to build a team, raise standards, own the operation, and create food people are excited to sit down for , we’d love to meet you. Apply today and help us raise the standard for dining at Walnut Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care.