Chef Manager - Britain School Nutrition

#17413

New Britain, Connecticut, United States

17413

New Britain Admin-52300

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

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

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? and help us nourish the next generation— at Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time.

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…