Job Description

Chef – Hourly (K-12 & Residential Food Service) Fuel Young Minds with Every Meal!

Approximate start date: 8-24-26

Are you passionate about cooking and looking for a job that aligns with your life? Join our school nutrition team as a Chef and help prepare fresh, nutritious meals that give students the energy to learn and thrive!

The Chef supports daily kitchen operations for K-12 school and residential dining accounts by preparing high-quality meals, following standardized recipes, and maintaining strict food safety and sanitation standards. This role works under the direction of the Chef Manager or General Manager in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook menu items according to standardized recipes and production schedules
• Ensure compliance with USDA school nutrition guidelines (K-12 accounts) and client standards (residential accounts)
• Maintain proper food temperatures, labeling, dating, and storage
• Assist with meal service, serving lines, and special events
• Follow HACCP, food safety, and sanitation procedures at all times
• Maintain clean, organized workstations and kitchen equipment
• Support inventory control, product rotation (FIFO), and waste reduction
• Work collaboratively to ensure timely, efficient meal service

Work Environment

• Commercial kitchen setting
• Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• May include early mornings, evenings, weekends, or school-year schedules (for K-12 accounts)

Why Join Us?

• Competitive pay + opportunities for growth

About Us:

At Whitsons, we believe food has the power to transform a school day. Our cooks are everyday heroes who prepare meals that nourish bodies and minds. Join us and bring your heart to the kitchen where it matters most.

Apply today and help cook up a brighter future—at Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.

$27 - $28/hour

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

Education

• Culinary degree or certification or comparable experience
• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Certifications

• ServSafe certification up to date

Computer Skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft office suite
• Ability to learn new computer programs
• Proficient in recipe procedures and cooking techniques

Other Qualifications, Experience and Competencies (include ability to manage and supervise staff, if required; ability to travel or speak foreign languages, if necessary, etc.)

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in professional kitchen required
• Experience in school nutrition programs preferred
• Experience managing kitchen and team required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required Sit, walk, talk and hear

• Use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.

• Be standing on feet majority of the workday in addition to walking back and forth.

• Lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Lifting while turning side to side is sometimes necessary.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is performed primarily in a Cafeteria /Food Service establishment. Work is primarily “hands-on” during mealtimes Office work is completed before or after mealtimesThe noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud

The 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 the Company reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties

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

Work Schedule

M - F
6:30 - 2:00

Salary Target

$27 - $28/hour