What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chef Manager - Orange School District position at Whitsons Culinary Group?
Chef Manager – Cook Up Leadership in School Nutrition!
School Dining Leadership
Are you a culinary professional who’s passionate about food, leadership, and purpose? Join our school nutrition team as a Chef Manager and bring your talent to a kitchen that nourishes students and shapes futures.
What You’ll Do:
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
We’re Looking For:
3 years of experience in culinary management (school food service or institutional setting a plus)
Strong cooking skills with a focus on scratch preparation and batch cooking
Knowledge of USDA school meal requirements, production planning, and food safety standards
A proactive leader who inspires teams and delivers results
ServSafe certification
Passion for feeding students and making a difference in the school community
Why Join Us?
Competitive pay opportunities for growth
Family-friendly schedule – no nights, weekends, or major holidays
Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, and retirement
Paid time off and professional development opportunities
A chance to lead with purpose and impact the health and success of students every day
About Us:
At Whitsons, we believe great food fuels great minds. As a Chef Manager, you’ll blend culinary skill with compassionate leadership to create a dining program students love. You’ll not only manage meals—you’ll help build a kitchen that’s a cornerstone of community, health, and learning.
Ready to serve up leadership with heart? Apply now and help us nourish the next generation—at Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.
Annual Salary 79K
Qualifications:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:
Education:
College / Culinary degree preferred.
FMP preferred.
Safety training classes completed as required
Certifications:
ServSafe Certification required
OSHA Certification preferred but not required
Local food safety certification, if required in jurisdiction of employment.
Computer Skills:
All Microsoft Office Suite products
Ability to learn new software programs
Other Qualifications, Experience and Competencies:
Minimum 3-5 years of high volume food service management experience required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee 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:
Standing most of the day is required for this position. Must be able to
To sit, walk, talk and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to multi-task.
Position may require extended hours including evenings and/or weekends, travel to multiple work sites and occasional out-of-town travel. Must be able to drive his/her own vehicle to other work sites.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee 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 kitchen setting. The 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.