Corporate Executive Chef - Senior Living

Corporate Executive Chef - Senior Living

About Creative Dining Services

Creative Dining Services is a hospitality and food-service management company headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan. We partner with organizations across the country, including corporate offices, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and senior living communities. Our focus goes beyond providing meals; we create memorable dining experiences, build relationships, and bring people together through hospitality.

Where everyone has a seat at the table.

About the Role

Creative Dining Services is seeking an experienced Corporate Executive Chef to provide culinary leadership, training, and operational support across multiple locations. This position will have a focus on supporting our Senior Living accounts, helping elevate dining experiences through culinary excellence, innovative menus, and strong operational practices.

You'll serve as a culinary expert and resource for field teams, providing hands-on coaching, troubleshooting operational challenges, developing talent, and ensuring consistent execution of company standards. This role is ideal for a seasoned culinary leader who enjoys working across multiple operations, developing other chefs, and finding creative ways to improve food quality, efficiency, and overall performance. 

What You’ll Do

• Provide Culinary Leadership: Serve as a culinary resource and subject matter expert for locations across the company, offering guidance and direction to culinary teams to maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and execution.
• Support Daily Culinary Operations: Visit locations to assess kitchen operations, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide hands-on assistance with production methods, workflow, staffing challenges, and overall kitchen efficiency.
• Develop and Mentor Culinary Teams: Coach, train, and develop Executive Chefs, Kitchen Managers, and other culinary team members. Share best practices, strengthen technical skills, and help build confident, capable culinary leaders.
• Drive Menu Development and Innovation: Create and enhance menus, recipes, and culinary concepts that reflect current food trends, customer preferences, seasonal ingredients, and the needs of each dining environment.
• Improve Food Quality and Consistency: Establish and reinforce standards for recipe execution, portioning, flavor, presentation, and the overall dining experience across locations.
• Monitor Financial Performance: Partner with location leadership to manage food and labor costs, evaluate purchasing practices, review menu pricing, and identify opportunities to improve financial performance without compromising quality.
• Strengthen Production and Kitchen Processes: Evaluate food production systems, kitchen workflows, equipment utilization, and inventory practices. Recommend solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support consistent service.
• Maintain Food Safety and Sanitation Standards: Reinforce company policies and regulatory requirements related to food safety, sanitation, allergen awareness, and kitchen cleanliness. Provide guidance and training to help locations maintain compliance.
• Support New Business and Account Growth: Assist with new account openings, client presentations, menu development, culinary planning, and implementation of operational standards. Help establish strong culinary programs that support client expectations and company goals.

• Collaborate Across Departments: Work closely with operations, business development, purchasing, and account leadership to address challenges, share expertise, and support company-wide initiatives.
• Evaluate and Implement Improvements: Stay informed on culinary trends, industry practices, and emerging food concepts. Identify opportunities to introduce new ideas, improve existing programs, and enhance the overall dining experience.
• Travel and Provide On-Site Support: Travel extensively to company locations to provide hands-on training, operational assessments, culinary support, and guidance to local teams.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Culinary Arts or a related field.
• 10+ years of professional culinary experience with a strong background in kitchen operations and culinary leadership.
• 5+ years of experience with Healthcare or Senior Living dining operations.
• Current ServSafe certification and formal allergen training.
• Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP)
• Extensive knowledge of food production, kitchen workflows, menu development, and culinary best practices.
• Strong financial acumen, including food cost management, menu pricing, sales analysis, purchasing, and forecasting.
• Experience supporting multiple locations or overseeing multi-unit culinary operations.
• Experience developing culinary concepts, standardizing recipes, and implementing operational improvements.
• Background supporting new account openings, client presentations, or business development initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, recipe management systems, and other business software.

Top Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $100,000-$110,000 annually + bonus opportunities 

• Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) Retirement with company match
• Generous PTO policy
• DailyPay earned wage access
• Significant discounts with partner companies
• Access to pet insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

Why Creative Dining Services?

At Creative Dining Services, we believe hospitality is about more than food, it's about creating connections and making a positive impact on the people and communities we serve. Join a team that values creativity, collaboration, and delivering exceptional experiences.

Why just work when you can be Creative.