Chef

Dickinson College, chartered in 1783, is a renowned four-year residential liberal arts institution distinguished for its leadership in global and sustainability education. Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania — a city recognized by Forbes as one of the most livable — Dickinson offers its community a vibrant campus life closely connected to a lively downtown area featuring eclectic dining, shopping, and entertainment options. The college benefits from its close proximity to the state capital Harrisburg and is within driving distance of major metropolitan areas including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

As an institution, Dickinson College values academic excellence alongside social responsibility, empowering students and staff to contribute meaningfully to a global society. The college fosters a supportive work environment for its employees, providing extensive benefits such as comprehensive medical insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous paid time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and their dependent children under the age of 24. Additionally, Dickinson offers retirement benefits with an 8% contribution of the base salary and an additional 0.5% matching contribution that vests immediately.

Dickinson College’s Dining Services department is currently seeking an experienced and versatile Chef to join their Kitchen team. This full-time role offers a dynamic and rewarding opportunity to be a key player in the preparation and production of high-quality food across various dining venues including kitchen, catering, Kove (a retail dining operation), and retail outlets. The Chef role demands the ability to work competently across all food production stations and to take on leadership responsibilities in the absence of the Sous Chef or Executive Chef.

The Chef will be charged with delivering excellent, consistent food productions while leading and supervising kitchen staff on designated stations and shifts. Responsibilities include recipe and menu development and validation, quality control of meal preparation, and overseeing banquet and catering services both on-campus and off-premise. Leadership will also extend to staff training, enforcing sanitation and safety standards, and maintaining professional kitchen operations.

This position plays an essential part in upholding Dickinson’s standards for food service and safety. The Chef is entrusted with executing menus independently, ensuring food presentation quality, and assuming shift supervision during leadership absences. Collaboration across departments is critical to meeting production timelines and delivering successful events and dining experiences for the college community.

The role requires sharp analytical skills to assess recipes and convert ingredient quantities accurately, with communication lines maintained with the Executive Chef and Production Manager for ongoing improvements. Safety compliance is paramount, adhering to ServeSafe standards and HACCP procedures to ensure the wellbeing of staff, students, and guests. The Chef also ensures cleanliness and orderliness of workspaces and personnel appearance, fostering a positive and sanitary kitchen environment.

As an essential “emergency response personnel,” the Chef must be prepared to report to work during college delays or closures caused by weather or other emergencies. This responsibility highlights the critical nature of this position within the college’s operational framework.

Overall, this Chef opportunity at Dickinson College combines culinary expertise and leadership in a vibrant academic setting that values sustainability, inclusivity, and quality service – an ideal setting for culinary professionals who thrive on diversity, challenge, and community impact.