Health Dimensions Group is partnering with a premier senior living community in Burr Ridge, Illinois to identify an experienced and innovative Executive Chef to lead its comprehensive culinary program.
This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished culinary leader to oversee a diverse, multi-outlet dining operation that includes restaurant-style dining, a pub, main kitchen and dining room, bistro and grab-and-go offerings, catering services, and culinary production supporting residential care areas.
The Executive Chef will serve as the senior culinary and operational leader for the community, setting the vision for food quality, hospitality, menus, service standards, team development, financial performance, and the overall dining experience. This role is ideal for a leader who combines strong culinary expertise with business acumen and a passion for creating memorable experiences for residents and guests.
As Executive Chef, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all culinary venues while developing a high-performing team and ensuring exceptional quality and service.
In this role, you will:
Lead the overall culinary vision and strategy across multiple dining venues, resident dining, catering, and special events
Develop and oversee menus, recipes, seasonal offerings, specials, presentation standards, and culinary concepts
Ensure each dining venue offers a distinct experience while maintaining consistent standards for quality, hospitality, and value
Maintain a visible presence throughout culinary operations, regularly evaluating food quality, presentation, service, and resident satisfaction
Lead, coach, and develop culinary managers, chefs, cooks, service staff, and other team members
Establish clear expectations, accountability, training, and performance standards throughout the culinary department
Oversee restaurant-style dining operations, high-volume production, catering services, retail and grab-and-go offerings, and residential meal service
Partner with community leadership and other departments to develop special events, dining experiences, promotions, and resident programming
Own culinary budgeting and financial performance, including labor, food and beverage costs, inventory, pricing, revenue, waste reduction, and overall operating results
Evaluate menus, staffing models, service hours, promotions, and purchasing strategies to improve efficiency and financial sustainability
Maintain strong vendor relationships and oversee purchasing, inventory controls, product specifications, and equipment needs
Ensure exceptional standards for food safety, sanitation, infection control, regulatory compliance, and documentation
Partner closely with nursing and dietary professionals to ensure accurate execution of resident diets, allergies, modified textures, and other meal accommodations
Use resident feedback, participation trends, financial results, and operational data to continuously improve the culinary experience
Serve as a collaborative member of the community's leadership team and help shape the future of its hospitality and dining programs
Progressive culinary or foodservice leadership experience, ideally within a multi-outlet senior living, healthcare, hospitality, restaurant, institutional foodservice, catering, or high-volume environment
Approximately 7+ years of progressively responsible culinary or foodservice experience, with significant management responsibility strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience leading and developing culinary teams and other people leaders
Strong culinary expertise with experience in menu development, recipe standardization, quality assurance, and food presentation
Experience overseeing restaurant operations, high-volume production, catering, purchasing, inventory, and labor management
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, food and labor costs, pricing, P&L performance, and operational efficiencies
Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, allergens, regulatory compliance, and quality-assurance practices
Experience improving or transforming culinary operations, dining concepts, or underperforming venues is strongly preferred
Senior living or healthcare foodservice experience, including exposure to therapeutic or modified diets, is strongly preferred
Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and change-management skills
Ability to balance executive-level strategic leadership with a visible, hands-on presence throughout culinary operations
Degree or formal education in culinary arts, foodservice management, hospitality management, business, dietetics, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered
Current food sanitation or food-protection manager certification, or ability to obtain and maintain required certification
This is an opportunity to lead a culinary program that extends far beyond traditional senior living dining.
You'll have the ability to influence the culinary vision, restaurant concepts, menus, resident experiences, special events, team culture, and financial performance of a sophisticated multi-venue operation. You'll work closely with senior leadership while developing a talented culinary team and creating dining experiences that residents and guests genuinely look forward to.
For a culinary leader who enjoys combining hospitality, creativity, operational excellence, and people leadership, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful and highly visible impact.
If you're an accomplished culinary leader who is passionate about exceptional food, hospitality, team development, and creating memorable dining experiences, we'd love to connect.
Apply today to learn more about this Executive Chef opportunity in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
