Residential Chef​/Cook – Adolescent Mental Health Center

Danville, CA | $30–$32/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 home in Danville, CA. This is more than a culinary job — it’s a chance to use your passion for food to support teens on their healing journey.

• Competitive pay
  : $30–$32/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 seven days per week
• 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

• High School Diploma
• Experience in food service and preparation required
• Must hold current certification or licensure for operating a kitchen. (Serv Safe, Food Handlers Card).
• Must be 21 years or older
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license
• Must be able to pass a Live Scan 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

• Experience working with teens or behavioral health settings
• A desire to combine culinary skills with a greater purpose

• Must pass a background check and TB test
• Reliable transportation to our Danville location

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.

For information on Evolve's privacy practices, see the Evolve California Personnel Privacy Notice located at