Lead Cook- Lincoln Leadership Academy

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™.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications And Competencies:

Education:

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

Certifications:

• ServSafe certification
•  Local food safety certification, if required in jurisdiction of employment.

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:

• 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 work day is required.
• Work requires movement in and out of store rooms, 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.