Cook

About the role

Hillcrest Health & Living is seeking a dependable, service-focused, and experienced Cook to join our culinary team at Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages in Papillion, NE.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve nutritious, appealing meals
• Follow approved menus, recipes, portion guidelines, and meal-service schedules
• Understand and accommodate resident and guest dietary needs
• Prepare meals according to prescribed diets, food textures, allergies, and fluid restrictions
• Incorporate resident and guest preferences into meal preparation whenever possible
• Ensure food is served at the appropriate temperature and presented attractively
• Support room-service delivery and ensure meals are prepared and presented accurately
• Provide excellent service throughout the dining experience
• Follow safe food-handling practices to prevent foodborne illness
• Maintain kitchen and dietary sanitation standards
• Complete food-temperature, sanitation, and other required regulatory logs
• Follow established cleaning schedules and maintain a clean, organized kitchen
• Help ensure culinary duties are completed according to Hillcrest policies and applicable state and federal regulations
• Oversee daily kitchen operations and help maintain a safe working environment
• Use the electronic ordering system and other culinary technology as required
• Support adequate culinary staffing and coverage within the Cottages
• Participate in quality-improvement activities and help maintain readiness for sanitation and DHHS surveys
• Support the culinary team with additional meal-service and operational responsibilities as assigned

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• At least two years of hotel or restaurant line-cooking experience preferred
• Previous household-style cooking experience preferred
• Previous experience in skilled nursing, long-term care, senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or institutional food service is helpful
• Experience preparing therapeutic or texture-modified diets is preferred

Qualifications

• Passionate about cooking and creating meals that are nutritious, appealing, and personalized to resident needs
• Committed to quality and ready to create meaningful dining experiences for aging adults
• Genuine desire to serve aging adults
• Strong attention to detail with recipes, portions, temperatures, dietary instructions, and sanitation logs
• Able to manage multiple meal-preparation priorities while maintaining quality and accuracy
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and professional during busy meal periods
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Basic computer skills and comfort using an electronic ordering system
• A professional, respectful, and team-first attitude