School Nutrition Kitchen Lead & Chef Manager

Whitsons Culinary Group; Middletown Township (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Family-friendly schedule

Paid time off

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group seeks a Chef Manager to lead a school nutrition program in Middletown, NJ. This role drives daily kitchen operations, mentors staff, and designs nutritious menus aligned with USDA guidelines.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in high-volume kitchen leadership, ServSafe credentials, and a passion for feeding students with quality, scratch cooking in a compliant environment.

Qualifications

• College or culinary degree preferred; FMP certification preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 3–5 years of high-volume food service management; K-12 or contract food service experience preferred.
• ServSafe certification required; local food safety certification required; OSHA certification preferred; company training.
• Strong leadership and communication; ability to coach kitchen staff in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Food safety

Menu planning

Scratch cooking

Budgeting

Training & mentoring

ServSafe certification

Education

College or culinary degree

FMP certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Whitsons Culinary Group seeks a Chef Manager to lead a school nutrition program in Middletown, NJ. This role drives daily kitchen operations, mentors staff, and designs nutritious menus aligned with USDA guidelines.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in high-volume kitchen leadership, ServSafe credentials, and a passion for feeding students with quality, scratch cooking in a compliant environment.