Cook

Senior Living Cook – Merrill Gardens at Carolina Park

Work Schedule:

4 days a week – 11 am to 7:30 pm (line work); 1 day a week – 8 am to 1 pm.

Are you passionate about working with seniors? Are you dedicated to supporting seniors on their wellness journey to ensure they are provided with an atmosphere that values individualism and dignity? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you!

From the communities we create to the connections we make with residents, everything we do is rooted in our history as a fifth‑generation family business. We build on that family with the people we hire and the teams they form. As a family company, we can do things differently and for the past 30 years our long‑term commitment to team members has been unsurpassed.

We offer our full‑time employees:

• Highly competitive pay and comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance).
• Company‑paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid time off – 7 holidays and 11 vacation days.
• Free daily meal every shift.
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.
• Tuition reimbursement for career growth.
• Company‑paid short & long‑term disability insurance.
• Pet insurance and team member discounts.
• Advance Pay benefit – access wages before payday.
• A stable, growing company with opportunities for advancement.

We offer our part‑time employees:

• Free daily meal every shift.
• 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.
• Company‑paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement for career growth.
• Pet insurance and team member discounts.
• Advance Pay benefit – access wages before payday.
• A stable, growing company with opportunities for advancement.

• Assist in preparing all food items following production amounts, proper recipes, and procedures.
• Ensure all food items are prepared in a timely fashion. Use batch‑cooking and cook‑to‑order where appropriate to ensure a fresh product.
• Prepare all food products in a manner to ensure the highest level of Food Safety and to preserve nutrients toward meeting the specific dietary requirements of the residents.
• Attend all regularly scheduled dining services meetings and in‑service trainings.
• Maintain kitchen sanitation and safety standards.
• Clean and sanitize all work areas and equipment before and after each use.
• Practice proper food handling and food storage procedures as per Merrill Gardens and state Food Safety guidelines.
• Maintain documentation of all temperature charts and records as per company policy and procedure.
• Complete assigned cleaning to ensure compliance and sanitary standards are met.

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in quality food preparation.
• Experience in scratch cooking in a high‑volume, fine‑dining setting.
• Proficiency in computer skills including MS Outlook, Word, etc.
• 1‑year previous dining experience in food preparation.
• High School diploma required or GED; college degree or equivalent preferred.

This role requires frequent standing, walking, and manual handling of materials up to 50 lbs. Regular bending, lifting, and reaching are also part of daily responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Yes, You Can have a meaningful Career! Our mission is to provide an inspiring environment for our residents, families, and team members where every life is defined by the possibilities.

Merrill Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer.