- Senior
- Office in Wilmette
We’re seeking a creative and innovative Executive Chef with strong leadership and culinary expertise to oversee a high-performing kitchen team in a luxury independent senior living community. This full-time, salaried, on-site role at Mather Place in Wilmette requires a hands-on presence during peak service hours—including dinner, weekends, and special events—and reports to the Director of Food and Beverage. The Executive Chef will lead cooks, pastry chef/sous chef, utility stewards, and the kitchen supervisor, working collaboratively to mentor, train, and grow the team. With a commitment to 100% from-scratch cooking, this role offers the opportunity to craft globally inspired menus and elevate every dish with creativity, precision, and passion. This is a rewarding opportunity to deliver memorable dining experiences through culinary excellence, innovation, and continuous team development.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION
- Design globally inspired menus for restaurants, catering, holidays, and special events.
- Partner with pastry chef/sous chef to develop desserts, breads, and pastries tailored to each venue.
- Lead a 100% scratch kitchen with a focus on “a la minute” preparation and presentation.
- Ensure consistent food quality, variety, and visual appeal while minimizing waste.
- Maintain strict compliance with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
- Source ingredients from local vendors while balancing quality and cost.
- Manage recipe database, inventory systems, and nutritional data.
- Provide hands-on training and mentorship using online culinary development platforms.
- Stay current with industry trends and integrate them into menus and operations.
- Build positive relationships with residents and respond to feedback professionally.
- Align team schedules with volume demands and Mather policies.
- Oversee documentation including performance reviews, training logs, and inventory.
- Ensure proper cleaning, equipment use, and maintenance protocols.
- Collaborate on capital equipment planning and budget performance reviews.
- Lead and sustain a Quality Assurance Process Improvement program.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Required:
- Culinary Arts Degree or Professional Chef Certification – CEC or CIA ProChef3
- Ability to multi-task in a demanding environment and make independent decisions as
- Effective communication and leadership
- 7+ years progressive supervisory position in a high-quality, scratch multi-venue kitchen
- Ability to establish and maintain professional and positive relationships between kitchen, service staff and colleagues and influence performance and change through those relationships.
- Current sanitation certification and any other federal, state, local required
- Computer skills including MS Office, SharePoint, online training platforms, recipe, and inventory control software, scheduling systems, web based purchasing platforms, sanitation dashboards, point of sale systems and e-mail.
Preferred:
- Experience working with older adults
#INDM123
The salary range for this position is a good faith estimate of the range Mather reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting. The actual wage paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to specific skills or certifications, years of experience, geographic location and market changes. Bonus Plan eligible ranging from 0-10% of base salary. The position is also eligible to participate in Mather benefit plans.
Benefits
Mather offers a competitive benefits package.*
Team members are eligible for:
- A generous paid time off (PTO) program including vacation days/personal days, sick days, and holidays. This is an “earn-as-you-go” plan that rolls over year to year, offering long- and short-term flexibility.
- A 401(k) program with per pay-period employer match and annual employer contribution (available to those age 21 or better)
- Convenient, subsidized parking (or public transportation for certain locations)
- Wellness Spending Account: up to $300 available annually for Wellness related expenses such as gym memberships, financial planning, etc.
Benefits-eligible team members can take advantage of:
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Paid Parental Leave
- Adoption Assistance Reimbursement
- Tuition reimbursement for continuing education
- Extended illness benefits
- Employee wellness programs
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance - free to all team members
*Benefits are subject to change without notice. Benefits details dependent on employment status.
About Mather Place
Mather Place is an independent living rental community for those 62 and better, located in the heart of Chicago’s North Shore in Wilmette, Illinois—a short walk from Old Orchard shopping center. Mather Place includes 179 independent living apartment homes, as well as two restaurants, a fitness center, an art studio, a library, and more.
Mather Place is located at 2801 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette.
About Mather
Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a unique, non-denominational, not-for-profit organization founded in 1941. Dedicated to developing and implementing Ways to Age WellSM, we create programs, places, and residences for today’s young-at-heart older adults. Mather has received a national certification as a Great Place to Work®, and has been selected as a Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness Award recipient four years in a row.
Mather is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to an inclusive workforce. Candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
