Lead Cook/Sous Chef, In School (No Nights/Weekends) - Newark,NJ

Lead Cook, In-School

About the Role

The In-School Lead Cook is an integral part of a 3–5 person team responsible for preparing and cooking healthy, made-from-scratch meals for 750+ children in their school each day. This role requires strong culinary skills, the ability to manage high-volume meal production, and a commitment to maintaining Red Rabbit’s standards for quality and consistency.The position offers stable, daytime hours with weekends and holidays off.

Critical Functions

• Takes ownership of an exceptional degree of consistency and quality of every batch prepared
• Able to work autonomously using a prep list
• Working with the Head Chef to understand how to prioritize the production of daily menu items
• Read menu production sheets to understand the type and quantity of food that will be prepared each day
• Portion and weigh food according to Red Rabbit’s recipes and NLSP guidelines.
• Assist with cooking, cooling, and plating food as needed and according to Red Rabbit’s recipes and NJ food safety guidelines
• Assist with packing and keeping counts as needed
• Ensure the kitchen is exceeding DOH standards at all times by cleaning work stations and cooking equipment

Skills & Requirements

• 3+ years professional culinary experience in a fast paced role in the service industry (i.e. restaurants), high volume kitchen production (i.e. commissary kitchen), or in a similar cafeteria role (i.e. schools/hospitals)
• Comfortable making 500+ meals consistently
• Demonstrated knowledge of proper food safety and sanitation practices
• Must be familiar with using and maintaining industrial kitchen equipment
• Able to self motivate and to be organized
• Can function well within a team and work calmly and efficiently in a fast moving environment
• Have a great attitude who contributes to a positive working environment
• Share our passion for improving nutrition and health in schools
• Must be able to read and write in English. Bilingual (English and Spanish) a plus.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs on a regular basis
• ServeSafe Certificate required within 90 days of Hire. (Reimbursement available)

Job Type: Full Time

Typical Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Location : Newark, NJ

Reports to : Head Chef

Compensation : $19 - $22/hour (with option for Annual raise)

Benefits

• Generous PTO (most major holidays off)
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 401k Option
• Paid Professional Development
• Education Reimbursement Opportunities
• Paid Family Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• Worker’s Compensation Insurance Coverage

About Red Rabbit

Founded in 2005, Red Rabbit is an MWBE-certified K–12 school food management company on a mission to transform school dining. We believe that serving diverse, high-quality meals to children in urban communities is about more than food, it’s about dignity, representation, and opportunity.

Our professionally trained chefs work in commissaries and onsite in school cafeterias, preparing scratch-made, culturally relevant meals that reflect the heritage and lived experiences of the students we serve. We don’t just deliver food...we become part of the school community.

Today, Red Rabbit prepares and serves millions of meals each year across the Greater New York region, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

If you’re passionate about food, community, and making an impact every day, we’d love to meet you.

Red Rabbit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sexual orientation.