Food Service Director (School Chef)

Company: The Schoolhouse
Location: South Burlington
Posted on: February 21, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Salary: Dependent on Experience School Chef / Kitchen Lead (Full Time, School Year) Love kids? Love food? The Schoolhouse Learning Center is seeking an experienced, community-minded School Chef / Kitchen Lead to oversee our school food program (serving preK to 8th grade). This is a full-time, school-year position for someone who enjoys both cooking and being an active, visible presence in a school setting. The food program is embedded in a nature-based program that values local foods and direct connections with local farms. Our kitchen is in a shared, open space and the Chef has daily interaction with students and staff throughout the day. The School Chef plays an important role in shaping a positive, calm, responsive and nourishing food culture for our community. The new chef will be taking over from an accomplished and experienced chef who can share menus, shopping lists and processes. We would encourage the new chef to shadow for at least a few days before the end of the current school year, if possible. Key Responsibilities Include: Overseeing all aspects of the school lunch program, including menu planning, budgeting, ordering, shopping, food prep, service, cleanup, special events, and tracking sign ups. Projecting food needs based on daily lunch counts (currently 7090 meals per day) Preparing meals that are mostly vegetarian, with vegan options and accommodations for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and other dietary needs (nut-free when required) Maintaining a clean, well-organized kitchen and ensuring smooth daily transitions, including turning the kitchen over to Afterschool staff at 2:00 pm Preparing to-go lunches for field trips, communicating and collaborating closely with teachers and staff Qualifications: ServSafe certification (or willingness to obtain) Experience in high-volume or institutional cooking, ideally in a school or community setting Strong organizational skills and comfort managing food budgets and systems Enjoyment of working around children and in a lively, shared space CPR, First Aid and background check required Compensation: $40,00062,000 (school-year only), depending on experience Generous PTO and paid vacation days (approximately 200 hours total over 10 months) Health benefits, retirement plan and more Full-time, school-year only position To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter here.

Keywords: The Schoolhouse, Chelsea , Food Service Director (School Chef), Hospitality & Tourism , South Burlington, Massachusetts