Assistant Chef

One City Schools; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

PTO + holidays

Health coverage

401(k) matching

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Employee Assistance Program

On-campus child care

Homeownership grants

Education priority for kids

Job summary

One City Schools in Madison, Wisconsin is seeking an Assistant Chef to support the daily meal program for over 500 scholars and staff in a fast-paced school kitchen. You will assist with preparation, food safety, and operations under the Executive Chef.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in high-volume kitchens, knowledge of food safety, and experience in school nutrition or USDA-compliant programs, along with strong communication and organization skills to keep meals on time and of high quality.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in high-volume or commercial kitchen.
• ServSafe or equivalent food-safety certification.
• Ability to follow recipes and meet production timelines.
• Experience in a school nutrition or USDA-compliant program.
• Strong communication and organization skills.

Responsibilities

• Culinary operations: prep and serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks for ~500 scholars and staff.
• Maintain safety, quality, and presentation per standards.
• Follow recipes and portion guidelines consistently.
• Keep kitchen clean and compliant with sanitation rules.
• Coordinate with Executive Chef and Café Attendants.

Skills

High-volume kitchen experience

Food safety knowledge

Recipe following & timing

School nutrition experience

Strong communication

Job description

ASSISTANT CHEF

One City Schools | Madison, Wisconsin

Full-Time

Salary Range: $45k to $55k depending on qualifications and experience

Reports to: Executive Chef

Posted: August 2026

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Help Us Nourish Scholars Every Day

At One City Schools, meals are part of learning. As our Assistant Chef, you’ll help prepare and serve nutritious, whole-food meals that fuel our scholars’ bodies, minds, and joy. If you love cooking for a crowd, thrive in a fast-paced kitchen, and care about community, this role is for you.

About The Role

The Assistant Chef supports the Executive Chef with daily meal preparation, food safety, and kitchen operations for our K–8 school community. Also working with two additional Nutrition Team members, this role helps ensure consistent, high-quality meals, accurate USDA documentation, and smooth, joyful service for more than 500 Scholars and staff each day. This role supports our commitment to healthy bodies, strong routines, and a welcoming school environment.

What You’ll Do

Culinary Operations

• Prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and snack for ~500 Scholars and staff
• Maintain high standards for food quality, safety, and presentation
• Follow standardized recipes and portion guidelines with consistency
• Keep kitchen spaces clean, organized, and compliant with sanitation standards
• Support a positive, collaborative workflow with the Executive Chef and Café Attendants

Compliance & Recordkeeping

• Complete USDA-required meal counts and point-of-service documentation
• Maintain accurate temperature logs, sanitation records, and daily compliance tracking

Procurement & Inventory

• Receive and properly store food deliveries
• Monitor inventory, track usage, and communicate supply needs
• Support procurement and cost-effective food operations

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION: PDF

Who You Are (Ideal Candidate Profile)

You are someone who takes pride in feeding a community. You enjoy working in a fast-paced kitchen, follow routines with consistency, and care about presenting high-quality meals to children. You’re organized, reliable, and able to keep calm and focused during busy service times. You value teamwork, communicate clearly, and bring a positive, solutions-oriented mindset to your work. Most of all, you believe healthy food helps Scholars learn, grow, and feel cared for.

You might be a great fit if you:

• Live our CRISP Habits of Character: Compassion, Risk, Integrity, Self-Respect, Persistence
• Take pride in nourishing a community and understand that healthy meals help scholars thrive
• Work well in a fast-paced kitchen, where timing, consistency, and teamwork matter
• Value predictable routines that help children feel safe, seen, and cared for
• Are ready to learn and model The One City Way, contributing to consistency, collaboration, and joy
• Bring reliability, positivity, and resilience to every service

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a high-volume or commercial kitchen
• Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation (ServSafe preferred)
• Ability to follow recipes and meet production timelines
• Experience in a school nutrition or USDA-compliant program
• Strong communication and organization skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with procurement or inventory processes
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, diverse community environment

Not sure you meet every qualification?

If this role sparks something in you, apply, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications.

Our Benefits

Comprehensive Package

• Competitive salary based on education and experience
• 18 PTO days plus holidays, winter break, and spring break
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with 5.9% employer matching
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program

Unique One City Benefits

• On-campus infant and early learning care with discounted tuition
• Homeownership support through the Own-It Program ($19,000 down payment grants)
• Admission priority for age-eligible children of employees

Why One City

We’re building a model of public education rooted in belonging, joy, consistency, and high expectations. The Healthy Meals Program is a key part of that vision. You’ll be part of the team that brings it to life every day.

Learn more at www.onecityschools.org or watch our story on YouTube.com/@OneCitySchools.

Diversity & Equal Opportunity Statement

One City Schools welcomes applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences who share our belief that every child deserves an excellent education.

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