Floating Cook - Gardner School Nutrition

Whitsons Culinary Group; Gardner (MA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401K with company match

Paid time off and holidays

A welcoming, supportive team

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group in Gardner, MA is seeking a Floating Lead Cook to join our school nutrition team. This full-time role involves leading meal prep, coordinating kitchen operations, and guiding staff across multiple schools in a Monday–Friday schedule with no nights or weekends.

You will ensure safety, quality, and timely service while maintaining records, managing orders, and upholding HACCP standards. Competitive pay and benefits support ongoing professional growth.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of professional culinary or food service experience.
• Must have ServSafe certification or be willing to obtain it.
• Proficient in English (read and speak) for recipes and safety.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and service of meals according to daily school menus and portion guidelines.
• Organize kitchen operations, ensuring food is safely cooked, beautifully presented, and ready on time.
• Support and guide team members in maintaining a clean, efficient, and friendly kitchen environment.
• Oversee food orders, inventory, and deliveries to keep everything running smoothly.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, sanitation protocols, and allergy accommodations.
• Keep accurate records including production sheets and temperature logs.

Skills

Culinary skills

Food safety & HACCP

Time management

Team leadership

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Job description

#17777

Gardner, Massachusetts, United States

Requisition Number

17777

Location

Gardner Admin-60200

Job Description

Floating Lead Cook – Bring Leadership and Heart to the School Kitchen!
Monday–Friday | No Nights or Weekends!

Are you an experienced cook ready to take the lead in a meaningful role? Join our school nutrition team as a Lead Cook and help prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals that fuel student success. Float between Jaffrey, Mascenic & Gardner Public Schools!

Take pride in knowing your work directly impacts the health, focus, and well-being of growing minds—every single day!

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the preparation and service of meals according to daily school menus and portion guidelines.
• Organize kitchen operations, ensuring food is safely cooked, beautifully presented, and ready on time.
• Support and guide team members in maintaining a clean, efficient, and friendly kitchen environment.
• Oversee food orders, inventory, and deliveries to keep everything running smoothly.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, sanitation protocols, and allergy accommodations.
• Keep accurate records including production sheets and temperature logs.

Why You’ll Love This Job:

• Family-Friendly Hours – Be home before dinner!
• Leadership Opportunity – Step up in a supportive, mission-driven role
• Paid Training – Learn our systems and grow your skills
• Work with Purpose – Make a difference in children’s daily lives

What We’re Looking For:

• At least 1 year of professional culinary experience
• Familiarity with basic cooking techniques, recipe procedures, and food safety
• ServSafe certification or willingness to obtain
• Strong organization and time-management skills
• Ability to lead a kitchen team in a positive, collaborative way
• Passion for preparing healthy meals and helping kids thrive

About Us:

At Whitsons Culinary Group, we believe every meal has the power to enhance a student’s day. As a Lead Cook, you'll play a vital role in ensuring nutritious, well-prepared meals are delivered with care and consistency. This is more than a job—it’s a way to lead with heart and purpose in your community.

• Competitive pay with opportunities for advancement
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• A welcoming, supportive team environment
• The chance to make a daily impact through food

Pay Rate: $19.50/hour

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required; must complete all Whitsons and government-required training as necessary.

Experience

• Minimum 1 year of professional culinary or food service experience required ; school nutrition or institutional food service experience preferred.

Certifications

• ServSafe certification required or must obtain within a defined timeframe upon hire; local food safety certification required in any jurisdiction of employment.

Other Qualifications

• Must be proficient in recipe procedures and cooking techniques; ability to speak and read English sufficient to understand and perform job assignments, follow recipes, and comply with safety requirements.
• Always presents a positive and professional image; ability to work effectively as part of a food service team in a fast-paced kitchen environment; genuine interest in school nutrition and student health.

Core Competencies

• Culinary Skill & Recipe Adherence: Demonstrates proficiency in cooking techniques, batch cooking, and recipe execution; consistently meets portioning, presentation, and nutritional compliance standards for every meal served.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Maintains rigorous adherence to HACCP, ServSafe , and all applicable food safety and sanitation standards; completes temperature logs and production records accurately and on time every shift.
• Execution & Reliability: Manages the timing and sequencing of cooking operations to meet meal service deadlines consistently; follows all Whitsons policies, production standards, and assigned schedules with accuracy and dependability.
• Attention to Detail: Demonstrates care in portioning, temperature monitoring, station setup, signage, and documentation; ensures every station is stocked, clean, and properly maintained throughout the service day.
• Teamwork: Works cooperatively with the Chef Manager and fellow food service workers; contributes to a productive, positive kitchen environment and supports the team in achieving daily service goals.
• Customer Focus: Takes pride in the quality and presentation of every meal served; maintains a welcoming, clean, and visually appealing station and understands that student satisfaction and participation are the ultimate measure of success.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILS

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time non-exempt position. Days and hours of work are aligned with the school district’s food service schedule. Occasional extended hours may be required in support of special events or operational needs.

Travel Requirements

This position is primarily site-based. Occasional travel to other school locations within the district may be required for substitute coverage or operational support.

Physical Demands of the Job

The Team Member is required to stand on their feet for the majority of the workday; frequently walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to handle food, tools, and equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, including while turning side to side. Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment. Movement in and out of storerooms and near ovens and freezers is regularly required . Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position operates primarily in a kitchen and food service production environment. Standing is required for the majority of the workday. The noise level is moderate to loud during meal service periods.

T he duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position , and Whitsons reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties .

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between Whitsons and team member and is subject to change by Whitsons as the needs of Whitsons and requirements of the job change.

Work Schedule

• Monday to Friday
• 6AM-2PM
• Follows school calendar.

Salary Target

$19.50/hour