Cook / Caregiver (Culinary Lead)
Evergreen Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care | Strongsville, OH
Build More Than Meals. Create Moments.
At Evergreen Gardens, we believe food is one of the most important parts of a resident's day. A great meal creates comfort, dignity, conversation, memories, and community.
We are seeking a highly motivated Cook / Caregiver (Culinary Lead) who wants to do more than prepare food. This is a unique dual-role position where your primary responsibility is leading our culinary experience while also serving as a valued member of our caregiving team.
If you enjoy cooking from scratch, building relationships with seniors, creating meaningful dining experiences, and being part of a high-performing team, we would love to meet you.
About Evergreen Gardens
Evergreen Gardens is a boutique Assisted Living and Memory Care community with only 16 residents. Our smaller environment allows us to provide exceptional care, personalized service, and meaningful relationships with every resident and family we serve.
Unlike large corporate facilities, our team members have the opportunity to make a visible impact every day.
Schedule
Full-Time or Part-Time
- 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- 10-hour shifts
- Every other weekend required
Compensation
- Competitive hourly wage based on experience
- Paid training
- Career advancement opportunities
Primary Responsibilities (Culinary Lead)
Approximately 70-80% of this role focuses on culinary operations.
Culinary Excellence
- Prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks daily
- Create appealing, nutritious, home-style meals residents genuinely enjoy
- Accommodate special diets, texture modifications, allergies, and physician-ordered dietary requirements
- Ensure meals are prepared and served on schedule
- Maintain exceptional food quality, presentation, and consistency
Menu Development
- Develop rotating seasonal menus
- Meet with residents regularly to gather feedback and menu suggestions
- Incorporate resident favorites and special requests whenever possible
- Plan holiday meals, family events, and special celebrations
- Introduce new recipes and culinary experiences
Kitchen Leadership
- Manage food inventory and ordering
- Monitor food costs and reduce waste
- Maintain proper food storage and rotation procedures
- Ensure compliance with health department regulations
- Keep kitchen clean, organized, and inspection-ready at all times
Resident Engagement
- Lead cooking demonstrations and cooking classes
- Participate in resident council meetings and food committee discussions
- Create interactive culinary experiences for residents
- Build meaningful relationships with residents and families
Secondary Responsibilities (Caregiver Team Member)
Approximately 20-30% of this role supports resident care operations.
Resident Care Support
- Assist residents with activities of daily living when needed
- Answer resident call lights and requests
- Support activities and engagement programs
- Assist with transfers and mobility support as trained
- Document care tasks as required
- Work collaboratively with caregivers, nurses, and leadership
This position is not intended to function as a traditional full-time caregiver assignment, but team members must be willing to step in and support resident care whenever needed.
What Success Looks Like
The ideal candidate:
- Loves cooking and serving others
- Takes pride in creating memorable dining experiences
- Enjoys building relationships with seniors
- Operates with high standards and attention to detail
- Thinks like an owner
- Keeps an organized kitchen
- Communicates effectively with residents, families, and teammates
- Brings positive energy to work every day
Qualifications
Preferred
- Previous experience as a cook, chef, dietary manager, or food service professional
- Experience in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, hospitality, or healthcare
- Knowledge of special diets and texture-modified foods
- STNA, CNA, CMA, or caregiving experience
Required
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Ability to stand for extended periods
- Reliable transportation
- Strong attendance and dependability
- Ability to pass background check and pre-employment screening
Why Join Evergreen Gardens?
Small Community. Big Impact.
- Only 16 residents
- Build genuine relationships with residents and families
- Leadership team that values and supports staff
- Opportunity to shape the culinary program
- Meaningful work every day
- Stable schedule
- Growth opportunities as our organization expands
Our Mission
We exist to provide seniors with exceptional care, meaningful relationships, and a place that truly feels like home.
If you believe food is one of the most powerful ways to improve someone's quality of life, we want to hear from you.
Apply today and help us create a dining experience that residents look forward to every single day.
Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
