Lead Cook

South Port Square is a premier senior living community located on a sprawling 40-acre campus in the picturesque area of Port Charlotte, close to the serene Charlotte Harbor and the charming city of Punta Gorda, Florida. This location is famously known as one of Florida's best-kept secrets due to its natural beauty and quality of life. For over 30 years, South Port Square has been committed to serving the evolving needs of retirees and seniors, providing a nurturing environment that prioritizes care, safety, comfort, and community. The community is one of twelve retirement communities managed by Life Care Services (LCS), the nation’s leading developer and manager of senior living communities, which adds a layer of professional expertise and resources that ensure high standards and innovative senior care solutions.

At South Port Square, employees join a dedicated, hospitality-driven team that values strong work ethics, collaboration, and a genuine desire to positively impact the lives of residents daily. The management team and coworkers are not only supportive but also committed to helping staff find purpose in their work and develop fulfilling careers in senior living. The community fosters an atmosphere of trust and transparency, creating opportunities for personal and professional growth. This culture of empowerment and respect ensures that every team member contributes to creating an uplifting and pleasant environment for residents and guests alike.

We are currently seeking a passionate and experienced Lead Cook to join our dynamic team. This full-time position requires weekend availability and offers a competitive hourly wage starting from $20.00 per hour. The Lead Cook plays a pivotal role in the culinary operation of the senior living community by overseeing kitchen activities, ensuring high standards in food preparation and presentation, and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen environment. The position involves close collaboration with the Executive Chef as well as kitchen staff and utility workers to deliver exceptional dining experiences that meet both nutritional requirements and residents' personal preferences.

The Lead Cook is responsible for clarifying and organizing evening paperwork, posting production schedules for the next day, assisting the kitchen staff with their daily assignments, and monitoring product labeling to maintain safety and compliance. In addition, this role supports the Executive Chef by assisting in menu creation, costing, planning special event menus, and handling food orders. The Lead Cook supervises kitchen staff during shift changes, ensures all plates meet quality and portion standards before leaving the kitchen, and directs kitchen operations in the absence of the Executive Chef.

Beyond food preparation, the Lead Cook helps maintain customer satisfaction through attention to quality and service, supports maintaining the facility’s cleanliness to health department standards, and promotes a cohesive, team-oriented work environment. This role also involves tracking and managing resources carefully to reduce waste and costs while supporting continuous improvement by communicating operational issues and suggesting corrective actions.

Joining South Port Square means being part of a caring and inclusive workplace that values hospitality and senior engagement. If you are someone with experience in culinary arts, particularly in fine dining or hospitality environments, and have a passion for delivering exceptional service to seniors, this career opportunity offers a unique blend of professional fulfillment and community impact. Alongside competitive compensation, we provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and career growth within the senior living industry.