Chef Manager: Family‑Friendly School Kitchen Leader

whitsonsculinarygroup; Irvington (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Family-friendly schedule

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Whitsons is seeking a Chef Manager to lead school nutrition operations, creating nutritious menus, guiding a kitchen team, and ensuring food safety and compliance. You’ll partner with administrators to deliver meals that meet USDA guidelines and promote student well-being.

The role requires 3+ years in culinary management (K-12 or institutional setting helpful), ServSafe and strong leadership, with a focus on batch cooking and scratch preparation. This is a full-time, on-site position.

Qualifications

• College or culinary degree preferred; FMP certification preferred; equivalent combination of training and management experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of high-volume food service management experience; K-12 or contract food service experience preferred.
• ServSafe certification required; local food safety certification; OSHA certification preferred; company training requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations to deliver healthy, high-quality meals to students and staff.
• Supervise and train kitchen teams to ensure culinary excellence and efficiency.
• Create menus that meet USDA school nutrition guidelines and are kid-friendly.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and inventory controls per health regulations.
• Collaborate with school administrators and nutrition staff to support student well-being.
• Manage production records, vendor orders, and kitchen budgets.
• Foster a welcoming, inclusive kitchen culture focused on teamwork and accountability.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team leadership

Communication

Food safety

Menu planning

Education

College or culinary degree

FMP certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Whitsons is seeking a Chef Manager to lead school nutrition operations, creating nutritious menus, guiding a kitchen team, and ensuring food safety and compliance. You’ll partner with administrators to deliver meals that meet USDA guidelines and promote student well-being.

The role requires 3+ years in culinary management (K-12 or institutional setting helpful), ServSafe and strong leadership, with a focus on batch cooking and scratch preparation. This is a full-time, on-site position.