Dishwasher / Steward

Job Summary

A steward in a senior living community (incorporating independent living, assisted living, and memory care) manages the back-of-house culinary operations, ensuring kitchen sanitation, equipment maintenance, and inventory control. They maintain a safe, highly regulated dining environment tailored to varying resident dietary needs.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain commercial dishwashers, ensuring all dishware, silverware, and cookware are sanitized to health code standards.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces, floors, food storage areas, and trash receptacles.
• Follow strict hazardous communication guidelines and ensure proper chemical storage, especially in communities with memory care residents where safety is a heightened priority.
• Receive, unpack, and verify food and supply deliveries against purchase orders.
• Organize walk-in coolers, freezers, and dry storage using the FIFO (First-In, First-Out) method to minimize food waste.
• Monitor and manage inventory for cleaning supplies, chemicals, paper products, and kitchen smallwares.
• Assist the culinary team in portioning and plating meals tailored to specific resident needs (e.g., low-sodium, diabetic, thickened liquids, or pureed diets common in memory care).
• Assist with transporting food carts to dining rooms or directly to resident apartments across all levels of care.
• Clean and perform basic preventative maintenance on kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, slicers, mixers, and dish machines).
• Identify and report malfunctioning equipment to the Director of Dining Services for repair.
• Dispose of food and waste in accordance with established policies.
• Other duties assigned are appropriate to the position.

Requirements and Qualifications

• 2–3 years of experience in dishwashing, serving, wait staff and or kitchen management.
• Requires a current Food Handlers card issued by local Health Department
• Must possess an active CPR/BLS Certification and always maintain certification during employment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of high standards of food preparation, sanitation, hygienic methods of food preparation and storage, and safety with formal on-the-job training, and approximately one year of experience in quantity food preparation in order to have the necessary technical skills to maintain high standards of food preparation.
• Previous experience preparing food in an institutional setting is preferred.
• Demonstrates initiative and sound judgment in setting up meals and utilizing leftovers.
• Demonstrates competency in operating kitchen equipment.
• Interpersonal skills are necessary to establish effective relationships with department workers, supervisors, and with other departments.

At Ovation, we believe caring for others starts with caring for our own teams. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind—so you can focus on making a difference every day.

Employees are Benefits-eligible at 30+ hours/week. Coverage begins the 1st of the month following hire

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage – Regence medical plans (PPO & HDHP), Delta Dental (with orthodontia), and VSP vision
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs & work/life balance (Canopy)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Flexible PTO program combining vacation, sick, and holiday time
• Paid Holidays – Six recognized holidays, with premium pay for eligible hourly employees
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Available after 90 days, with discretionary employer match
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Employer contributes up to $600/year for HDHP participants
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Medical, Limited, Dependent Care, and Commuter options
• Supplemental Insurance Options – Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Life & Disability (Sun Life)
• Legal Insurance – Affordable access to legal support for common life needs
• Pet Insurance – Discounted plans through Wishbone
• Employee Discounts – Savings on travel, entertainment, electronics, fitness & more (Tickets at Work)

Ovation by Avamere is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify