Personal Chef

We’re seeking a culinary creative with exceptional personability to join our team of personal chefs. This role is ideal for someone who wants the freedom to expand their craft in the kitchen while having the support of a like‑minded team of personal chefs, operational experts, and mentors. All candidates will undergo a training period regardless of prior experience.

Briefly describe your experience and why you want to work with Meal Mate DC

Resume

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Portfolio (required): Drop a link to your cooking photo portfolio (website, instagram, photo album, etc.)

Job Description

About Meal Mate DC

Meal Mate DC is a local boutique kitchen coaching and personal chef service caring for clients of varying tastes and needs in the Washington DC area (and sometimes further!). We hold a high standard for client care and service experience, whether through our weekly in-home meal preparations, elevated private dinners, or compassionate one‑on‑one kitchen coaching. We believe that effective organizational systems and a high caliber of team care are essential for delivering the quality we commit to.

Position Overview

We’re seeking a culinary creative with exceptional personability to join our team of personal chefs. This role is ideal for someone who wants the freedom to expand their craft in the kitchen while having the support of a like‑minded team of personal chefs, operational experts, and mentors. All candidates will undergo a training period regardless of prior experience.

Our Ideal Candidate is:

• is a Food Lover– you have a wide breadth of food knowledge, appreciation, and preparation skills (and can know good food when tasted)
• is a Creative Problem-Solver –you believe that “if it ain’t broke”, it could still be better
• can Spin Many Plates at Once– you can manage pots on multiple burners at the same time, with minimal burning
• is a People Person– you can read a room, navigate smoothly through varying social dynamics with ease, craft, and professionalism in both in‑person and written
• is Quick Thinking– you can figure out solutions quickly and sometimes with unconventional methods

Key Responsibilities:

In-Home Menu Design and Food Preparation

Develop high variety, personalized menus for clients based on their specific needs and preferences while aligning with Meal Mate DC’s high standard of quality and care

Maintain inventory and organization of ingredients in client storage (fridge, pantry) and Meal Mate DC storage (including business office storage, business office refrigerator, vehicles)

Procure ingredients for client events through various methods including submitting purchase orders, grocery pickups, market/grocery shopping

Prepare food in client homes in accordance with proper food health and safety guidelines

Adhere to all food safety regulations, including proper handling of raw ingredients and cooked food.

Carrying, lifting, and transport of food and equipment to and from event sites and as needed

Clean kitchen areas (countertops, sinks, floors, storage areas, etc.), dining areas (tables, floors, etc.) dishware, kitchen tools and equipment during and after service events or sessions

Event and Team Management

Coordinate with event team (personal chef assistants, wait staff, bartenders, operations team) and manage on‑site delegations to ensure successful execution of events

Set up tablescapes, displays, and decor as needed for service events

Provide wait service and client care in a friendly, professional, and timely manner, including communicating updates and feedback between clients and team as needed

Travel to and from client homes, grocery stores, business office and storage facilities, and other locations as needed for service events or sessions.

Maintain a clean and presentable appearance when performing the Services, including wearing close‑toed indoor kitchen shoes and cooking attire (e.g. apron and/or chef coat), and keeping hair tied back and/or out of face

Administration

Maintain communications with team on a regular basis via slack, email and phone

Represent Meal Mate DC in business communications with clients, leads, and partners via email and phone

Manage spending budgets; track expenses and submit receipts or documentation for business spending

Support with light marketing and social media tasks such as taking photos, videos, participating in marketing and media campaigns, building relationships with potential clients, vendors, and partners, etc.

Support with maintenance and creation of digital information and documents including recipe, ingredient, grocery lists, menus and reheating instructions, process documents, etc.

Travel to and from client homes, grocery stores, business office and storage facilities, and other locations as needed for business operations

Professional Development

Acquire and maintain certifications and trainings in accordance with Meal Mate DC requirements (including ServSafe manager certification)

Participate and contribute to onboarding trainings, team trainings, team building events

Ad Hoc

Other Services as agreed upon

Why You’ll Love Working with Meal Mate DC

Adaptable Weekly Hours : You can decide to have one weekly client, or five! (based on availability of opportunities)

Team Support: Be part of a growing relationship‑based, chef‑led team focused on care and quality

Professional Development : Grow with regular team skill-shares and mentorship opportunities

Start‑Up Energy : Be part of a growing relationship‑based, chef‑led team focused on care and quality

Requirements

Be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.

Be open to work outside of traditional business hours. As a culinary service based business, our work often occurs in the evenings, nights, weekends, and occasional holidays. You’ll be offered flexible working days to accommodate for this.

Be able to lift 50 pounds and stand for long periods of time.

Have your own form of transportation (for commuting and transporting materials)

Logistics & Compensation

Location : Hybrid in the Washington DC metro area. In‑person responsibilities will occur at various event locations, storage sites, stores and vendor locations, across the Washington DC metro area. Local travel required.

Hours: varied, hourly and/or event‑based

Trainee/Personal Chef Assistant–$23/hr, with travel mileage reimbursed, non‑exempt

Lead Personal Chef–event based (starting $320 for average 4‑6 hour event)

Start Date : rolling, based on position availability

To Apply

Please submit an application online above

1. Your resume or written summary of relevant experience AND
2. If you are interested in this role but unsure if you meet all the criteria for this position–please get in touch. We value experiences that are unpaid, unconventional, or from lived experience. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns in regards to this position description.