Head Chef-Kitchen Manager

Crave-It Nutrition is a Texas-based food service company that specializes in delivering high-quality, nutritious food programs to schools across the state. Managing over 65 locations, Crave-It Nutrition is deeply committed to fostering healthy eating habits among students by serving wholesome meals crafted from whole-food ingredients. With a mission to promote nutrition-conscious school environments, the company blends culinary excellence with operational efficiency, elevating the standard for school food service programs. Crave-It Nutrition prioritizes creating a culture of care, consistency, and community through their services, ensuring students receive meals that meet diverse dietary needs including allergies and religious restrictions. They emphasize training, compliance, and leadership to maintain a safe and welcoming kitchen environment.

Crave-It Nutrition is currently seeking a skilled, mission-driven Kitchen Manager and Head Chef to lead the school food service program at St. Paul Catholic Classical School. This role stands as a high-visibility, impactful leadership position where the successful candidate will be the face of the kitchen program. The Kitchen Manager & Head Chef will be responsible for serving students, building trust with parents who are nutrition-conscious, and shaping a culture of excellence and care in every meal served. This position is especially significant as the school anticipates the arrival of a secondary school, which makes strong organizational skills paramount. The role ideally suits a culinary professional who leads with humility and service, thrives in a school environment, and takes genuine pride in providing wholesome, high-quality meals to children every day.

The role offers a school-year schedule, typically from 6/7am to 2pm Monday through Friday, with the possibility of summer work opportunities. The compensation is competitive and based on experience, supplemented by paid training and onboarding support through Crave-It Nutrition. This position requires hands-on culinary expertise—leading, cooking alongside, and managing a small team of cooks and servers. The Kitchen Manager & Head Chef will oversee daily kitchen operations including opening and closing procedures, food preparation timelines, and service execution, and will maintain strict adherence to health and safety standards.

Additional responsibilities include designing and managing a rotating school lunch menu that features high-quality, whole-food ingredients with broad student appeal. The role involves sourcing ingredients thoughtfully to meet nutritional standards, budget constraints, and accommodate dietary restrictions such as allergies and religious dietary laws. Regular evaluation and improvement of menu offerings based on student feedback and participation data are critical to the continuous success of the program.

The successful candidate will also be the primary point of contact for parents, engaging professionally and warmly with nutrition-conscious families and addressing their concerns with transparency and respect. Communication with the broader school administration and community about the food program, menu updates, and special events is a key part of the position.

Administrative duties include managing inventory, ordering supplies, reducing food waste, tracking participation numbers, and ensuring accurate records for food safety and compliance are maintained. Candidates will be expected to complete required certifications and training provided by Crave-It Nutrition, including a food handler certification and diocesan safe environment training.

Crave-It Nutrition seeks a culinary leader who values service and accountability, who is reliable and punctual, and who maintains a servant-leader mindset. This role demands a physical presence capable of standing extended periods, lifting up to 50 pounds, and efficiently working in a fast-paced kitchen environment. The ideal professional should be ready to pass a comprehensive criminal background check and hold or be able to obtain a current Food Manager's Certificate prior to starting.

Joining Crave-It Nutrition offers a unique opportunity to impact student health and enjoyment through nutrition in a dynamic, supportive, and growth-oriented environment focused on excellence in school food service.