Executive Chef / Culinary Services Director
Sonida Senior Living – Fitchburg, Wisconsin
A Different Kind of Culinary Career
Cook for people, not tickets. Lead a team. Create memorable experiences. Help us redefine senior living dining—and still have a life outside the kitchen!
Bring your culinary passion to The Waterford at Fitchburg, a Sonida Senior Living community in Fitchburg, WI, where great food, hospitality and relationships come together. If you’re ready for a different kind of culinary career—one where you can lead a team, create memorable dining experiences, build meaningful relationships and still have a life outside the kitchen—we’d love to meet you.
At The Waterford at Fitchburg, you’ll have the opportunity to:
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Enjoy no late-night restaurant hours — kitchen service typically wraps up by 7–8 p.m., with an evening cook providing coverage.
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Help create a more restaurant-style, hospitality-driven dining experience for our residents.
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Bring your creativity to menus, special events and themed dining experiences.
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Lead, coach and develop a culinary team.
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Build relationships with the people you serve and learn their individual preferences.
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Enjoy a more predictable schedule and better work-life balance than traditional restaurant kitchens.
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Work in an environment where great food and great hospitality truly matter.
About The Waterford at Fitchburg
The Waterford at Fitchburg is a premier senior living community in Fitchburg, WI, serving residents in Independent and Assisted Living. We believe dining should be about more than simply serving a meal. We’re working to create a restaurant-style dining experience that feels personal, welcoming and worthy of celebration.
Here, you’re not cooking for a ticket number. You’re cooking for people.
*Weekends and holidays are part of the role, as expected in a hospitality position, but you won’t be living at work.
Culinary Services Director Responsibilities:
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Manage, plan and direct the activities of the Culinary Services Department, including supervising and developing dining services staff.
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Ensure food service standards, policies, procedures, equipment, systems and work areas meet quality, safety and regulatory requirements.
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Provide the highest quality food service experience for residents.
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Coordinate closely with nursing staff, as needed, to ensure residents’ needs are consistently met.
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Order all supplies and maintain inventory control.
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Verify orders received, ensuring needed goods are on hand.
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Ensure budgetary guidelines are achieved and food costs are effectively managed.
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Cook daily in the kitchen and lead by example.
What We Offer:
We believe our team members deserve to enjoy both their work and their lives outside of work. Our comprehensive benefits include:
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Competitive salary
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PTO available from day one
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Medical, dental and vision insurance
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Life and disability insurance
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401(k) with discretionary company match
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Employee Assistance Program
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Dependent Care and Flexible Spending Accounts
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Paid training
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Educational and professional development opportunities
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Team Member and Resident referral programs
Qualifications
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3–5 years of experience as an Executive Chef, Kitchen Manager or Culinary Director in a restaurant, hotel, SNF or senior living environment.
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Associate degree or higher in Culinary Arts, Food Science or Hospitality Management OR Certified Executive Chef (CEC, ACF).
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ServeSafe Certification or Certified Dining Manager (CDM).
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Passion for quality food, hospitality and creating exceptional dining experiences.
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Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills.