Position SummaryWesleyLife is seeking an experienced and passionate
Regional Chef to provide culinary leadership and operational support across multiple senior living communities. This highly visible role serves as a strategic partner to community leadership teams, supporting culinary operations, developing talent, ensuring consistency, and advancing the organization's Culinary Excellence Pledge and FRESH philosophy.
The Regional Chef will function as a hands-on operational leader, coach, mentor, and culinary expert who works directly with communities to improve resident dining experiences, strengthen leadership teams, support operational transitions, and drive continuous improvement. This position is designed to provide leadership stability, operational excellence, and culinary expertise across the WesleyLife network when transitions and vacancies occur.
Salary: $85,000-$95,000
Essential Job Functions & ResponsibilitiesCulinary Leadership & Operational Support
- Provide culinary and operational support across multiple WesleyLife communities.
- Partner with Culinary Directors, Executive Chefs, Chefs, CDMs, Executive Directors, and community leadership teams to achieve operational excellence.
- Provide interim operational support during leadership vacancies, leaves of absence, vacations, new community openings, and periods of transitions including menu creation, cooking, and leading teams
- Assist communities in achieving food quality, labor management, resident satisfaction, and financial goals.
- Support the implementation of network-wide culinary initiatives and strategic priorities.
Culinary Excellence
- Champion the WesleyLife Culinary Excellence Pledge and FRESH philosophy.
- Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, recipe adherence, and execution.
- Support menu development, seasonal menu enhancements, and dining innovation.
- Assist with standardized recipe development, implementation, and continuous improvement.
- Promote resident-centered dining experiences while maintaining sound operational practices.
Team Member Development
- Coach and mentor culinary leaders and emerging talent.
- Support onboarding and development of newly hired culinary leaders.
- Conduct culinary training, workshops, and operational coaching.
- Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and excellence.
Quality, Compliance & Safety
- Conduct operational assessments and culinary audits.
- Support food safety and sanitation compliance.
- Assist communities with survey readiness and regulatory expectations.
- Reinforce organizational standards for hospitality, quality, safety, and service.
- Provides hands on support as needed to the operations of the community
Operational Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve labor efficiency and food cost performance.
- Support forecasting, inventory management, production planning, and waste reduction initiatives.
- Promote process standardization and operational best practices across communities.
- Assist underperforming communities with action planning and performance improvement.
Openings, Renovations & Transitions
- Support community openings, dining venue launches, and major operational transitions.
- Assist with menu development, training, culinary startup activities, and implementation planning.
- Provide leadership continuity during periods of operational disruption or change.
Work Environment & Schedule
- Approximately 85% of work time will be spent onsite within WesleyLife communities.
- Frequent travel between communities is required.
- A WesleyLife fleet vehicle will be available for business-related travel.
- This position supports hospitality operations that serve residents seven days per week, 365 days per year.
- The Regional Chef must be available to work a flexible schedule that may include:
- First and second shift coverage, weekends, holidays, special events, community openings and transition support, and occasional on-call operational assistance
Education & ExperienceRequired
- Associate degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Foodservice Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- Serve Safe Certification
- Minimum five years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
- Proven experience leading teams and managing foodservice operations.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, budgeting, labor management, and culinary operations.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to influence and lead through partnership and collaboration.
- Ability to travel extensively throughout the WesleyLife network.
Preferred
- Senior living, healthcare, hospitality, country club, hotel, or multi-unit foodservice experience.
- Certified Executive Chef (CEC), Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), or similar professional certification.
- Experience supporting multiple locations and leading operational improvement initiatives.
