Job Description

Residential Chef (Cook)

$35–$36.50/hour | Monday–Friday, 10am–6:30pm

Make meals that heal. Evolve Treatment Centers is hiring a Residential Chef (Cook) for our 6-bed adolescent residential treatment homes Walnut Creek/Lafayette. This is more than a culinary job — it's a chance to use your passion for food to support teens on their healing journey.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive pay: Walnut Creek/Lafayette $35-$36.50/hour
• Consistent schedule: Monday–Friday, no weekends or late nights
• Full benefits: Health, dental, vision, 401k, PTO, holidays
• Supportive culture: Small team, mission-driven work
• Beautiful workplace: Residential home setting with a welcoming kitchen
• Meaningful impact: Every meal supports a teen's recovery and well-being

Essential Functions:

• Prepare fresh, balanced meals for clients and on-site staff
• Plate and serve lunch and dinner for clients Monday through Friday; ensure that enough food is prepared to provide meals to staff on-site (including Overnight Residential Counselors) as well as second servings to all clients
• Prepare fresh re-heatable lunches and dinners for clients and staff on weekends
• Ensure that items for continental breakfast are available for clients to self-serve 7 days per week
• Prepare a homemade AM and a PM snack for the clients daily, Monday through Friday
• Ensure that all meals are balanced and appropriately portioned for adolescent clients; each meal should contain a protein, a carb, and a fruit or vegetable
• Follow the Evolve Menu Nutrition Standards in creating weekly menu and prepare meals in line with client dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, etc.
• Post menus weekly and review with clients individually to determine weekly opt outs
• Meet with clients individually after admissions to review their preferences, dietary needs and restrictions
• Maintain inventory of food and shop 1-2 times weekly to keep the kitchen stocked
• Ensure that the client refrigerator is stocked with whole fruit, string cheese, and yogurt
• Purchase food within the monthly budget provided, adjusting budget based on census
• Submit receipts at the beginning of each month for the previous month
• Monitor functioning of all kitchen equipment and alert Facility Nurse to needed repairs and replacements
• Properly store, handle, and prepare all food items, per licensing and accreditation standards
• Label and dispose of food per licensing and accreditation standards
• Post Menu each week, maintain refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher temperature logs per licensing and accreditation standards
• Ensure that the kitchen is kept neat and clean
• Ensure that kitchen sharps (knives, cheese graters, peelers, etc.) are locked in the sharps box when not in use; complete the sharps sign-out log when needed
• Provide meals and snacks for other Programs in the region if a Chef is out
• Other duties, as assigned by Program Director

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma
• Experience in food service and preparation required
• Must hold current certification or licensure for operating a kitchen. (ServSafe, Food Handlers Card).
• Must be 21 years or older
• Must be able to pass a LiveScan background check and clear federal and state criminal background checks, and child abuse indexes.
• Must be willing to interact with COVID-positive clients, as needed

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience working with teens in a behavioral health setting, school/college or healthcare.
• A desire to combine culinary skills with a greater purpose

Apply Today!

Bring your passion for food and care to a team making a difference. Join us at Evolve and help teens heal — one meal at a time.

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