Chef Manager - Yorkville School Nutrition Job Cicero area,Illinois USA,Restaurant/Food Service

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
Serv Safe 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.

At Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.

$42,000/year

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES Education

College or culinary degree from an accredited institution preferred;
Food Management Professional (FMP) certification preferred; equivalent combination of culinary training and progressive kitchen management experience will be considered.

Experience

Minimum 3–5 years of high-volume food service management experience required; K-12 or contract food service experience strongly preferred.

Demonstrated experience managing kitchen teams, controlling food and labor costs, executing production schedules, and maintaining food safety and sanitation compliance in a high-volume environment.

Certifications

Serv Safe certification required; local food safety certification required in any jurisdiction of employment; OSHA certification preferred; must complete all Company-sponsored training requirements.

Technical Proficiency

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required; ability to learn new software programs; proficiency in recipe procedures and cooking techniques required.

Other Qualifications

Strong leadership and team development skills; ability to manage and coach kitchen staff in a fast-paced, high-volume environment; excellent communication skills — both verbal and written.

Self-motivated, organized, and calm under pressure; genuine passion for food quality and culinary excellence; ability to drive own vehicle to other work sites as needed.

Core Competencies

Culinary Excellence: Brings hands-on culinary expertise and a passion for food to every service period; ensures recipe adherence, portion accuracy, and presentation standards are consistently met across all stations.

Food Safety & Compliance: Maintains rigorous adherence to HACCP, Serv Safe, and…