Chef Manager – School Nutrition Leader (Mon–Fri, PTO)

Whitsons Culinary Group; Vermont; On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Family-friendly schedule

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group in Vermont is seeking a Chef Manager to lead school dining operations, deliver nutritious, high-quality meals, and mentor a team of cooks and assistants.

You’ll create kid-friendly menus aligned with USDA school nutrition guidelines, supervise production, ensure food safety and inventory control, manage relationships with administrators and vendors, and drive a culture of teamwork and accountability on site.

Qualifications

• College or culinary degree from an accredited institution preferred; Food Management Professional (FMP) certification preferred; equivalent combination of culinary training and progressive kitchen management experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience managing kitchen teams, controlling food and labor costs, executing production schedules, and maintaining food safety and sanitation compliance in a high-volume environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations to deliver healthy, high-quality meals to students and staff.
• Supervise and train kitchen team members to ensure culinary excellence and efficiency.
• Create menus that are nutritious, kid-friendly, and compliant with USDA school nutrition guidelines.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and inventory controls in alignment with 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 and inclusive kitchen culture focused on teamwork and accountability.

Skills

Leadership & team development

Communication

Food safety principles

Scratch cooking & batch cooking

USDA school meal knowledge

Work under pressure

Flexibility to travel to other sites

Education

College or culinary degree (preferred)

FMP certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Whitsons Culinary Group in Vermont is seeking a Chef Manager to lead school dining operations, deliver nutritious, high-quality meals, and mentor a team of cooks and assistants.

You’ll create kid-friendly menus aligned with USDA school nutrition guidelines, supervise production, ensure food safety and inventory control, manage relationships with administrators and vendors, and drive a culture of teamwork and accountability on site.