Lead Cook

The Lead Cook is responsible for preparing and presenting nutritious, attractive meals and maintaining cleanliness of the food production and service areas.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve meals as indicated on planned menus, using standardized recipes, portion sizes, and approved substitutions.
• Ensure that meals are served at schedule times, planning and organizing food preparation tasks appropriately.
• Prepare meals for modified or therapeutic diets, according to physicians’ orders and modified menus.
• Supervises the kitchen staff in the absence of the Sous Chef; reports any problems or concerns to the Director/Executive Chef or Operations Manager.
• Is responsible for clean-up duties as needed after each meal service.
• Follows cleaning schedules and sanitation checklists to ensure kitchen and food service areas are maintained in clean and sanitary condition.
• Ensure that resident, staff and guest meals are accounted for according to established procedures.
• Ensure that resident food preferences are met.
• Observe and report to the Director/Executive Chef any problems, concerns or issues regarding the Dining Service Department.
• Monitor for changes in the status of residents and report such observations to the Director/Executive Chef.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, and mandatory in-services as approved or required.
• Maintain work area, equipment and supplies in a clean, sanitary and organized manner.
• Work safely; complying at all times with Plymouth Harbor safety standards.
• Immediately report any accidents and/or incidents to the Director of Dining Services or Sous Chef.
• Perform other duties as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Formal culinary educational training at a recognized school or university is preferred.
• Must possess comprehensive knowledge of food production and use of standardized recipes.

 Experience

• Minimum one to two years cooking in a professional capacity.

 General

• Must have good organizational skills.
• Must be a detail-oriented person and able to perform duties with great accuracy on a daily basis.
• Must have excellent personal skills, demonstrating the ability to conduct oneself in a non-controversial style; a style that inspires the respect of others and promotes a sense of trust in the individual’s competence.
• Must have good communication skills; speaking, writing, and listening.
• Must be fluent in English and be able to communicate in workplace Spanish.

CERTIFICATES/LICENSES/REGISTRATIONS

• Must be Safeserv certified or have the ability to obtain this certification.

Personal Requirements

• Support Plymouth Harbor’s mission, striving daily to ensure the best possible outcomes for the health and well-being of residents and staff.
• Maintain high personal standards for performance and encourage others to do the same.
• Must be able to get along with others and work as a team player.
• Maintain confidentiality in all Plymouth Harbor, resident, and team member matters.
• Use good judgement and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Work harmoniously with all persons residing in, employed by, or associated with, the organization.
• Be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people.
• Wear Plymouth Harbor team member i.d. badge at all times when on duty.
• Abide by the dress and grooming guidelines established for the department and possess good personal hygiene habits.

 Physical Requirements

• Must possess fully functioning sense of sight/hearing or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately in order to do the job.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk and move throughout the workday (lifting, carrying, bending, squatting, reaching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, twisting) using good body mechanics.
• Must be able to lift/push up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to cope with the physical and emotional demands of the position.