Executive Chef – Senior Living Hospitality Dining

Davidson, NC

$95,000 - $105,000 Base + Bonus + Full Benefits

We are seeking an experienced, hospitality-driven Executive Chef for a premier senior living dining community in Davidson, NC. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a chef who can combine strong culinary execution with team development, operational leadership, accountability, and hospitality-focused resident experiences.

This role is ideal for a polished culinary leader with experience in senior living, healthcare dining, hospitality dining, contract foodservice, hotels, resorts, country clubs, or upscale high-volume culinary operations.

The Executive Chef will oversee a multi-outlet dining operation that includes upscale resident dining, healthcare dining services, catering, café/marketplace service, and specialty culinary programming. This position requires a leader who can elevate culinary standards, increase scratch cooking execution, mentor teams, and drive consistency throughout the operation.

Send resumes to:
kimber@geckohospitality.com

Executive Chef Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day culinary and kitchen operations
• Oversee multiple dining outlets including restaurant dining, marketplace/cafeteria service, coffee service, and healthcare dining
• Drive culinary quality, presentation, consistency, and hospitality standards
• Lead the transition toward a higher-level scratch kitchen operation
• Create and implement seasonal menus and culinary features
• Develop, coach, mentor, and hold culinary teams accountable
• Manage food cost, labor, inventory, ordering, and operational systems
• Ensure compliance with all food safety and sanitation standards
• Partner closely with dining and operational leadership teams
• Execute high-volume meal periods, catering, and special events
• Maintain strong resident and guest satisfaction standards

Operational Overview

• Approximately $1.6M annual food budget
• Multi-outlet culinary operation
• Leadership oversight of 3 Sous Chefs and approximately 25 culinary team members
• Hospitality-focused senior living environment

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of Executive Chef or Culinary Director experience
• High-volume culinary leadership background
• Scratch kitchen experience required
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills
• Experience managing food cost, labor, and kitchen operations
• Catering and banquet experience preferred
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced hospitality environment
• Strong operational organization and accountability skills
• Passion for mentorship, hospitality, and elevated resident dining experiences

Preferred Backgrounds

• Senior Living Dining
• Healthcare Dining Services
• LPC or CCRC culinary operations
• Contract Foodservice
• Hotel & Resort Culinary Operations
• Country Club Dining
• Upscale Hospitality Dining

Schedule & Benefits

• Primarily Monday-Friday schedule
• Weekend leadership coverage rotation
• Bonus opportunity
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k)
• PTO
• Long-term growth opportunity with a hospitality-focused organization

Qualified candidates should apply today for immediate and confidential consideration.

Send resumes to:
kimber@geckohospitality.com