Lead Cook - Keansburg Joseph Bolger Nutrition

Lead Cook – Bring Leadership and Heart to the School Kitchen!
Monday–Friday | No Nights or Weekends!

Are you an experienced cook ready to take the lead in a meaningful role? Join our school nutrition team as a Lead Cook and help prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals that fuel student success. Take pride in knowing your work directly impacts the health, focus, and well-being of growing minds—every single day!

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the preparation and service of meals according to daily school menus and portion guidelines.
• Organize kitchen operations, ensuring food is safely cooked, beautifully presented, and ready on time.
• Support and guide team members in maintaining a clean, efficient, and friendly kitchen environment.
• Oversee food orders, inventory, and deliveries to keep everything running smoothly.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, sanitation protocols, and allergy accommodations.
• Keep accurate records including production sheets and temperature logs.

Why You’ll Love This Job:

• Family-Friendly Hours – Be home before dinner!
• No nights, weekends, or holidays
• Leadership Opportunity – Step up in a supportive, mission-driven role
• Paid Training – Learn our systems and grow your skills
• Work with Purpose – Make a difference in children’s daily lives

What We’re Looking For:

• At least 1 year of professional culinary experience
• Familiarity with basic cooking techniques, recipe procedures, and food safety
• ServSafe certification or willingness to obtain
• Strong organization and time-management skills
• Ability to lead a kitchen team in a positive, collaborative way
• Passion for preparing healthy meals and helping kids thrive

About Us:

At Whitsons Culinary Group, we believe every meal has the power to enhance a student’s day. As a Lead Cook, you'll play a vital role in ensuring nutritious, well-prepared meals are delivered with care and consistency. This is more than a job—it’s a way to lead with heart and purpose in your community.

Perks & Benefits:

• Competitive pay with opportunities for advancement
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• A welcoming, supportive team environment
• The chance to make a daily impact through food

Apply now and help us nourish the next generation! At Whitsons, our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.

 

Pay Rate: $17.15/hr

Qualifications

Education:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Must complete all Whitsons and government required training as necessary

Certifications:

• ServSafe certification

Other Qualifications, Experience and Competencies:

• Ability to speak and read English in order to understand and perform job assignments.

• Must be proficient in recipe procedures and cooking techniques.
• 1 year professional culinary experience required

• Always present a positive and professional image.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an 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 to:

• 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 is performed primarily in the kitchen and on the serving line
• Standing most of the workday is required.
• Work requires movement in and out of storerooms, near ovens and freezers

• Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment.

• 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 Whitsons reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties.

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