Café Cook / Food Service Cook

Full-Time & Part-Time Opportunities | $16.05–$20.47/hour Based on Experience

Great Food. Great Service. Great Team.

Are you an experienced cook who also enjoys talking with customers, working as part of a team, and creating a positive dining experience?

LifeSpire of Virginia is looking for a friendly, dependable, and energetic Café Cook / Food Service Cook to join our dining team.

Pay: $16.05–$20.47 per hour, based on experience.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys the energy of a café or restaurant but also wants the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the people they serve.

You'll prepare and serve food in a welcoming café environment while providing the friendly, personal customer service our residents and guests appreciate.

If you are someone who can move quickly when the café is busy, prepare quality food, stay organized, and still greet customers with a smile, we want to meet you.

What You'll Do

As a Café Cook / Food Service Cook, you'll be responsible for preparing quality food while providing friendly and efficient service to residents, guests, and team members.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and café menu items according to established recipes and quality standards.
• Cook food to the appropriate temperatures and follow all food safety and sanitation requirements.
• Work efficiently during busy meal and café service periods.
• Take customer and resident orders and provide friendly, attentive service.
• Interact with residents and guests in a warm, professional, and positive manner.
• Answer questions about menu items and make recommendations when appropriate.
• Prepare made-to-order food and ensure orders are accurate and presented attractively.
• Maintain appropriate food portions and presentation standards.
• Set up and stock the café and food service areas.
• Monitor food levels and communicate when additional food or supplies are needed.
• Keep work areas, equipment, counters, and food preparation areas clean and organized.
• Follow HACCP, food safety, sanitation, and temperature-control procedures.
• Properly store, label, date, and rotate food products.
• Assist with receiving, stocking, and organizing food and supplies.
• Operate kitchen and café equipment safely.
• Assist other Dining Services team members when needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Person We're Looking For

We are looking for more than someone who can cook.

We want a cook who enjoys people.

The right person will be:

• Friendly and approachable.
• Comfortable talking with residents and guests.
• Customer-service focused.
• Energetic and positive.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to multitask and prioritize during busy service periods.
• Dependable and punctual.
• A team player who is willing to jump in wherever needed.
• Detail-oriented and committed to food quality.
• Comfortable following recipes and food safety procedures.
• Able to remain calm and professional when the café gets busy.

Experience That Translates Well

We welcome candidates with experience as:

• Café Cook
• Line Cook
• Short Order Cook
• Restaurant Cook
• Prep Cook
• Breakfast Cook
• Grill Cook
• Food Service Cook
• Restaurant Server
• Counter Service
• Café Associate
• Food Service Worker
• Hospitality
• Catering
• Banquet Food Service
• Senior Living Dining
• Healthcare Food Service
• Hotel Food Service
• Fast-Casual Restaurant
• Quick-Service Restaurant

Previous cooking or food-service experience is preferred.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

At LifeSpire of Virginia, you're not just preparing food for anonymous customers.

You'll have the opportunity to get to know the people you serve and become a familiar and valued part of their day.

Our residents appreciate good food—but they also appreciate a friendly face, a warm greeting, and someone who takes pride in making their dining experience enjoyable.

If you like cooking, people, teamwork, and staying busy, you'll fit right in.

Pay & Opportunities

$16.05–$20.47 per hour based on experience

We recognize that experience matters. Candidates with relevant cooking, restaurant, café, hospitality, or food-service experience may qualify for a higher starting rate within the posted range.

Full-Time Team Member Benefits

Full-time team members are eligible for:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 4.5% Employer Retirement Contribution
• HSA Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Access to Early Earned Wages
• Supportive Leadership
• Collaborative Team Environment
• Meaningful Work With Amazing Residents

Why You'll Enjoy Working Here

We believe a great dining experience starts with a great team.

You'll work alongside people who value:

• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Quality
• Respect
• Reliability
• Creativity
• Joy

Our mission is to empower individuals with choices in purposeful living, and our dining team plays an important role in creating that experience every day.

If you're an energetic cook, line cook, café cook, or food-service professional who enjoys working with people and wants to be part of a supportive team, we'd love to meet you.

Apply today for our Café Cook / Food Service Cook position.

LifeSpire of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.