Production Manager / Entry-Level Chef

Memorial Medical Center Las Cruces is a well-established healthcare facility located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, dedicated to providing high-quality medical care and support services to its community. As part of a private, family-owned business group known as Hospital Housekeeping Systems (HHS), the center emphasizes a culture of integrity, respect, and continuous improvement. HHS began its journey in 1975 and has since expanded its scope of services to include housekeeping, food services, and facility management, catering to nearly 1,000 clients across six industries. This growth is fueled by a commitment to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, where every team member is valued and empowered to thrive professionally.

This position offers a salary of $52,000 annually and represents an excellent opportunity for culinary professionals looking to transition from late-night shifts to a stable, mission-driven career path. The work shift details support a balanced lifestyle aimed at professional development and long-term career advancement within healthcare food service.

The role available is for a culinary leader who will join Memorial Medical Center's culinary team. This leadership position is designed for an individual with high-volume kitchen production experience who is enthusiastic about learning the science behind healthcare food services. In this chef-led environment, the candidate will apply their culinary expertise while gaining valuable knowledge specific to patient-centered food preparation and service.

The culinary leader will be responsible for building and nurturing a highly skilled, motivated kitchen team that delivers exceptional food quality, adhering strictly to safety, sanitation, and service standards. The leader will foster a positive workplace atmosphere that encourages team morale, passion for culinary excellence, and mutual respect among team members. A significant part of the role involves developing creative menus aligning with current market trends and patient preferences, ensuring that food offerings are innovative, nutritious, and appealing.

Maintaining and improving customer and patient satisfaction will be central to the role. The leader will oversee recruitment, training, development, scheduling, and task assignments for kitchen staff, ensuring operational efficiency and team unity. Additionally, the leader will implement and monitor stringent quality control systems to maintain food integrity and comply with health, safety, and regulatory standards such as OSHA and HACCP.

Effective management of budget-related tasks including forecasting, recipe costing, inventory control, ordering, production planning, scheduling, payroll, and supply management will be key responsibilities. The ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and capable of making swift, sound decisions in a fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, enabling collaboration across all organizational levels.

The healthcare environment at Memorial Medical Center warmly welcomes veterans and candidates with military backgrounds and emphasizes the importance of COVID-19 vaccination or approved exemptions to ensure the safety of patients and staff alike. The center’s commitment to equal employment opportunity fosters an inclusive and diverse workplace where growth from within is strongly encouraged.

If you are a culinary professional with a passion for leading teams, a desire to grow within a dynamic healthcare setting, and a strong work ethic, this role offers an ideal platform for your next career move.