VP Culinary

At MorningStar Senior Living, we talk a lot about culture. In fact, we rather obsess about it. For without a transformative culture, we cannot begin to elevate and celebrate the lives of our resident-heroes and be ourselves changed for the good in the process. So, we seek great hearts, other people like us, who care and want to do work those matters. We select people like us who believe that the most satisfying life is one that is outward-bound and rooted in servant leadership. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The VP, Culinary, will be responsible for strategic leadership of high-quality meals, professional kitchens, and innovative dining and bistro experiences for our residents. As the senior leader in the company for all things related to dining experience, you will provide strategic leadership in ensuring our kitchens, menus, staff, and overall dining experience is elevated to a premium level with proper protocols in place for tracking budgets, meeting state/local compliance, and prioritizing safety matters.  

JOB DUTIES:

• Be an active leader in the organization with familiarity and ability to apply the implications of this discipline to the other disciplines of the company (i.e. Accounting/Finance, HR, Wellness, Sales, Clinical Support, Maintenance, Activities, Marketing, etc)

• Be the visionary for all areas related to an excellent culinary program that is a strong draw to our current and future residents (and their families). Leading the culinary efforts in this vision to be constantly improving and with the goal of exceeding the offerings of our competitors.  

• Assist in the implementation of plans, strategies, policies and procedures designed to promote and carry out the goals, objectives, strategic vision, and mission statement of the company and cooperatives.

• Train and oversee efforts to ensure community staff are leading, monitoring and properly auditing culinary budgets per location to stay within the required budget(s). 

• Ability to demonstrate and train in techniques and strategies to constantly deliver high quality meals and dining options. systems, appliances including household and commercial stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, air-conditioning and heating units

• Lead, develop, train, and audit menus and dining offerings to match our quality standards of excellence.  

• Participate with the Executive Directors and other leadership roles for hiring, training, and ongoing support for Executive Chefs of each community location. 

• Demonstrated ability to interpret practical implications of documents related to the safety and upkeep of our kitchens and dining areas, compliance regulations, and be able to train others on items for specifications, plans, safety rules, and best practices. 

• Oversee a safe and adequately trained program for safe kitchens and dining areas.  

• Lead in establishment of vendor resources and protocols for ongoing success in maintaining supplies and environments of our kitchens and dining areas.   

• Provide indirect leadership to kitchen leadership staff at each site. These team members will have a reporting relationship to the on-site leadership and an indirect reporting relationship to this role for functions this position oversees. 

• Ensure compliance with all safety procedures related to state and federal OSHA, etc. Provide resources for locations to use for safe kitchen practices.  

• Maintain corporate records of all applicable documents related to surveys, inspections, etc. as related to the kitchen and dining areas.  

• Assist with openings of new communities.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstration of our Core Values: Love, Kindness, Honesty, Goodness, Fairness, Respect

• Ability to lead within a culture committed to Morningstar’s “Team Member Promise”: We consider each team member a valued individual who is instrumental in-service excellence to our residents. MorningStar creates a work environment where life is enriched, stories are shared, and lives are cherished.  

• Demonstrated ability to envision and 

• Commitment to continually grow and develop relevant knowledge and experience.

• Ability to build a rapport with team-members of all levels in the organization and be seen as a trusted and strategic partner.

• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary (greater than 50% likely).  

• Excellence is culinary and dining and the many components required for that in senior housing.  

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in roles with a demonstration of success in all areas listed above.

• Multi-state leadership of culinary activities with preferred experience in senior living, fine dining or hospitality/hotels.