School Kitchen Lead Cook — Lead with Heart, Family‑Friendly Hours

whitsonsculinarygroup; Pepperell (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay & advancement

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401K with company match

Paid time off & holidays

Supportive team environment

Make a daily impact with food

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group is seeking a Lead Cook to lead school meal preparation and service with a focus on healthful, kid-friendly menus. You’ll supervise a small kitchen team, ensure timely service, and maintain rigorous safety and quality standards in a school setting.

Your role supports student health and learning by delivering nutritious meals with pride and professionalism. This is a full-time on-site position with paid training and a mission-driven team environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; complete required Whitsons and government training as needed.
• Minimum 1 year of professional culinary or food service experience; school nutrition or institutional food service experience preferred.
• ServSafe certification required or must be obtained within defined timeframe upon hire; local food safety certification required.
• Proficient in recipe procedures and cooking techniques; able to read English and follow safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and service of meals according to daily school menus and portion guidelines.
• Organize kitchen operations to ensure food is safely cooked, presented well, and ready on time.
• Guide team members to maintain a clean, efficient, and friendly kitchen environment.
• Oversee food orders, inventory, and deliveries to keep operations running smoothly.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, sanitation standards, and allergy accommodations.
• Keep accurate production sheets and temperature logs.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Food safety

Team leadership

English proficiency

Organization & time mgmt

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Job description

Whitsons Culinary Group is seeking a Lead Cook to lead school meal preparation and service with a focus on healthful, kid-friendly menus. You’ll supervise a small kitchen team, ensure timely service, and maintain rigorous safety and quality standards in a school setting.

Your role supports student health and learning by delivering nutritious meals with pride and professionalism. This is a full-time on-site position with paid training and a mission-driven team environment.