Culinary Assistant Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

About Arvum Senior Living
Arvum Senior Living proudly manages Assisted Living and Memory Care communities across 8 different states, representing over 2,000 units throughout the Gulf Coast and Midwest region. Rooted in our Pillars of Excellence, Arvum creates purpose-driven environments where seniors are supported with compassion and where Team Members find meaningful work, strong culture, and continuous opportunities to grow.
As part of one of the largest senior living organizations in the country, Arvum communities have earned Great Place to Work® certifications from 2022-2026. At Arvum, your purpose and your growth are important to us. We continually aspire and invest in learning and development opportunities that support our team members' professional growth, ensuring every Team Member can build a rewarding and enriching career.
The Executive Chef, in collaboration with the Hospitality Manager, is responsible for the overall management and oversight of culinary strategies, initiatives, and daily culinary activities. This role is accountable for overall meal preparation, accurate estimate of food consumption, purchase of food; select and develop recipes; standardize production recipes to ensure consistent quality; establish presentation technique and quality standards. The Executive Chef also plans menus to meet the needs of our residents; ensure proper equipment operation/maintenance; and ensure proper safety and sanitation in kitchen. The Executive Chef will oversee special catering events and may also offer culinary instruction and/or demonstrate culinary techniques. The Executive Chef uses innovation, imagination, originality, and talent as well as judgment and discretion in performance of the essential function of their role.
Responsibilities:

• Assist in planning, preparation, and execution of special events, banquets, and theme meals.
• Uses innovation, imagination, originality, and talent to produce menus and recipes that utilize the highest quality ingredients allowed within the overall food and labor budget of the community.

• Understand and maintain monthly and annual budgets for Food & Beverage department, including documentation of monthly spend on food, supplies, and Back of the house labor.
• Review and adjust menus to accommodate seasonal ingredients, recipe improvements, supply chain shortages, rebated and contracted products and cost of goods increases.
• Responsible for ensuring that purchasing standards are maintained and that approved vendors are always used. Maintain strong and positive relationships with all vendors.
• Accurately report and submit monthly inventory of food & beverage supplies.
• Interview, hire and train staff for culinary and back of the house positions. May assist with interviews for front of the house positions as well.
• Responsibly manage and supervise all culinary and back of the house staff including scheduling, assignment, direction, performance review, hiring and corrective action consistent with company policy.
• Work with the Executive Director, Hospitality Manager and community Department Heads to obtain and maintain department customer satisfaction and department of health survey levels at or above designated scores.
• Ensure preventive maintenance programs are conducted for kitchen equipment and that all staff uses and maintains equipment properly to avoid damage and costly repair.
• Ensures any dietary needs and restrictions are met.
• Confirm food policies and procedures are being practiced by kitchen staff including, personal hygiene, safe food storage and handling procedures.
• Manages control of food preparation with particular attention to potential overproduction and waste.
• Oversee maintenance and production of accurate daily records.
• Provide ongoing training at regular intervals to kitchen staff in the areas of food preparation and quality service and ensure that plating and presentation meet DSL standards for quality and appearance.
• In collaboration with the Hospitality Manager, ensures that the front of house and back of house staff work closely together to deliver a food product that exceeds the residents' and/or guest's expectation.
• In collaboration with the Hospitality Manager, works with BOH & FOH staff to ensure that they have a clear understanding of how to provide outstanding customer service.
• Work closely with Marketing and Activities personnel to ensure all resident special needs are met as well as to coordinate planning of unique events.
• In unison with the Hospitality Manager and Executive Director, meet regularly with residents and family members to confirm that high satisfaction levels are being delivered.
• Advise community leadership of any concerns regarding residents.
• Assist Kitchen and Restaurant staff with back and front of the house operations as needed. This includes the ability to work all stations in the kitchen and/or dining room if needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
Directly supervises employees in the Kitchen. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees.
Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Culinary Arts preferred, or an associate degree and equivalent combination of minimum five years' work experience as an Executive Chef.
• Minimum of five years' experience as an Executive Chef within the hospitality industry.
• Current ServSafe Certification.

Why Join Us
Discovery Senior Living Earned Coveted Great Place to Work Certification for 2025-2026!
A large part of what makes Discovery different from other companies in this industry is our willingness to embrace change. At Discovery Senior Living, we are constantly challenging how we are doing things to ensure the lifestyle we are offering our residents is absolutely the greatest value proposition in the marketplace. It's just as important to us that the environment and culture for our team members are constantly refreshed. In addition, embracing and even encouraging change brings a never-ending supply of new energy to our business and our culture. That energy translates to other far-reaching positive impacts on our residents as well as our team members.
Find out what makes working at Discovery unique in the world of senior living. Discover Your Purpose!
Our Culture & Values
So often, what brings people together is deeply rooted in who we are and what we stand for. And at Discovery Senior Living, we're unified by certain, core values, which we call our "Pillars of Excellence." They make up the fabric of our company, and include TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, HARD WORK and CREATIVITY.
Individually, they are our virtues, and together, they make up a roadmap which helps us foster innovation and success.
Benefits You'll Enjoy
For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive pay with early access to earned wages, flexible scheduling, health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid time off and holidays, a 401(k) with employer match, paid training and growth opportunities, uniforms (where applicable), and additional perks such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), volunteer time off, and wellness-related benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. EOE D/V
A Note to Applicants
This job description outlines the general nature and level of responsibilities for this role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Qualified individuals with disabilities, as defined by the ADA, must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, as determined on a case-by-case basis.
Agency Policy
We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies. Please refrain from contacting hiring managers directly.
Employment Scam Warning
We only post jobs on our official careers site and accept applications through that platform. We do not conduct interviews via text or social media or ask for personal or banking information.
Regulatory Compliance & Background Screening
Discovery Senior Living complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements governing hiring practices, background screening, and workforce eligibility. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of state-mandated and/or federally required background screenings, which may include criminal history checks, fingerprint-based screening, Level 2 background screening, registry verification, and other screenings required for healthcare and senior living roles with direct or indirect resident access.
Certain positions may be subject to additional requirements under federal programs, including CMS, Medicare, and Medicaid regulations, as well as state-specific licensing or regulatory agencies. Screening requirements vary by role and jurisdiction, and candidates must meet all applicable standards as a condition of employment. These measures support regulatory compliance and help maintain a safe, secure environment for residents, families, and team members.
Employment in Florida is contingent upon completion of a Level 2 background screening in accordance with Florida AHCA requirements. Applicants will be required to complete fingerprinting and background screening through the AHCA Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.
EOE D/V
JOB CODE: 1006941