Executive Chef
About this role
Executive Chef - No Late Nights
Preferred hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
The Commons in Lincoln – Lincoln, Massachusetts
A Continuing Care Retirement Community within Benchmark
Lead a Culinary Program that redefines Senior Living
At The Commons in Lincoln, dining is more than a meal—it's an essential part of a vibrant lifestyle. Our residents enjoy gourmet cuisine, fresh locally sourced ingredients and diverse dining experiences that rival the finest restaurants. We are seeking an experienced and visionary Executive Chef to lead our culinary team and elevate an already exceptional dining program.
This is an opportunity for a passionate culinary leader to create memorable dining experiences while making a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults within our community.
Position Summary
The Executive Chef is responsible for the leadership, management and execution of the culinary operations throughout the community. This role oversees menu development, food quality, kitchen operations, staff leadership, budgeting and regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of hospitality, creativity and excellence.
The ideal candidate combines strong culinary expertise with exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to delivering outstanding resident experiences. This role reports to the Campus Culinary Services Director, working in partnership to elevate the overall dining experience at The Commons.
Key Responsibilities:
Culinary Leadership
- Develop and execute innovative, seasonally inspired menus featuring fresh, local and sustainable ingredients.
- Maintain the highest standards of food quality, presentation, flavor and consistency.
- Create diverse dining options that accommodate a wide range of tastes, preferences and dietary needs across all the care levels on campus.
- Lead special events, holiday celebrations, chef's tables, wine dinners and other culinary experiences that highlight the diverse cultures and backgrounds that are prevalent within our community.
Team Management
- Recruit, train, mentor and develop kitchen staff.
- Foster a collaborative, professional and service-oriented culture.
- Schedule and manage culinary team members to ensure efficient operations.
- Conduct performance evaluations and support employee growth and development.
Operational Excellence
- Oversee food production and kitchen operations.
- Manage food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
- Monitor inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships and product sourcing.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation and health regulations.
Resident Experience
- Engage with residents to understand preferences and gather feedback.
- Collaborate with community leadership to continuously enhance dining services.
- Create welcoming, restaurant-quality dining experiences that exceed expectations.
Qualifications:
Required
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional culinary training.
- Minimum 5–7 years of progressive culinary leadership experience, including Executive Chef or Executive Sous Chef responsibilities.
- Strong knowledge of food production, menu development, purchasing and cost control.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing culinary teams.
- Current ServSafe certificate or equivalent.
Preferred
- Experience in hospitality, fine dining, luxury senior living, country clubs, hotels or upscale restaurants.
- Knowledge of nutrition and specialized dietary accommodations.
- Passion for farm-to-table cuisine and local sourcing.
- Experience managing multiple dining venues or service styles.
What We Offer
- Exceptional work-life balance within the culinary field, offering a schedule designed to keep evenings free. Our preferred operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Opportunity to lead a highly respected culinary program.
- A mission-driven environment where hospitality and service matter.
- Collaborative leadership team and supportive workplace culture.
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
- The chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and older adults every day.
Why The Commons in Lincoln?
The Commons in Lincoln, a premier community within Benchmark, is known for providing a thoughtfully personalized lifestyle centered on wellness, engagement and hospitality. Our dining program showcases gourmet cuisine, fresh local ingredients and varied dining experiences that redefine what senior living can be. We believe every meal should be an occasion, and we're looking for an Executive Chef who shares that vision.
As a community associate at Benchmark, you will have access to a variety of benefits including, but not limited to, the following:
- 8 holidays & 3 floating holidays
- Discounted Meal Program
- Paid Training & Company-provided Uniforms
- Associate Referral Bonus Program
- Physical & Mental Health Wellness Programs
- 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match*
- Medical, Vision & Dental Benefits*
- Tuition Reimbursement Program*
- Vacation and Health & Wellness Paid Time Off*
*Eligibility may vary by employment status
Benchmark Senior Living is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We embrace and encourage our associates’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our associates unique.
Company at a glance
Transforming Lives Through Human Connection
Benchmark Senior Living was founded in 1997 by the company’s Chairman and CEO Tom Grape. Tom had long recognized the value of the consumer-centered approach to senior living and the many health and social benefits the philosophy offers residents.
Not only had Tom decided to make senior living his life’s work, but he did so with a commitment to set the industry standard – to be the benchmark.
Today, Benchmark is a leader in senior living throughout the Northeast, offering independent living, assisted living, mind and memory care, continuing care retirement communities and respite care options in 63 communities across seven states.
The company is the largest provider of mind and memory care in New England and has been at the forefront of this specialty throughout its history. Today, the company operates 11 communities dedicated to memory services and nearly all its communities offer personalized, needs-based mind and memory care.
Benchmark’s core values of Called to Care, Better Together and Be the Benchmark guide its mission of not only providing world-class care, but doing so in a way that keeps Benchmark focused on who and what matters most: our residents, their families and our associates.
Top Benefits
- 8 Holidays
- 3 Floating holidays
- Discounted meal program
- Paid training
- Company-provided uniforms
- Associate referral bonus program
- Physical & mental health wellness programs
- 401k retirement plan with company match
- Medical benefits
- Vision benefits
- Dental benefits
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Vacation
- Health & wellness paid time off
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