Irvine Program Chef

Job Title: Irvine Program Chef

Job Status: Full-time Exempt

Brigaid Supervisor: Regional Chef

Location: Irvine, CA

Compensation: $92,000 plus full benefits

We’re hiring a Program Chef to lead our work with Irvine Unified School District (IUSD)!

Since 2016, we’ve been redefining what it means to be a successful chef by partnering with institutional foodservice programs across the US. Our team brings the systems and solutions to help kitchens consistently and confidently prepare high-quality meals. Demand for our services is growing faster than ever. In the past 5 years alone, we’ve expanded from a team of 5 chefs to a coast-to-coast network of 70 and counting.

About Our Partnership With IUSD

Located in Orange County, IUSD supports 38,000 TK-12 students.

The foodservice program serves breakfast and lunch daily. A central kitchen supplies most meals to the elementary, middle, and K-8 schools while the high schools are fully self-operating. The department is eager to:

• Build capacity for more scratch cooking through comprehensive staff training
• Elevate the quality and consistency of menu offerings
• Increase student satisfaction

As the Program Chef, you’ll work in IUSD on a full-time and year-round basis, collaborating closely with district leadership to plan and implement solutions in service of the above goals. Although the district will have ultimate authority over the program's strategic direction, you'll be a key player in driving change.

What the Position Entails

Your work will depend on the needs of the program. You may be asked to fulfill any of the following responsibilities.

Training

• Conduct regular staff training across sites on basic culinary, safety, and operational best practices in accordance with our standards.
• Lead the production and/or implementation of new systems/protocols (such as kitchen organization, serving line setup, food storage, and HACCP programs).
• Roll out kitchen signs and tools across sites from our catalog of training materials. Facilitate the creation of new materials.
• Regularly visit sites to assess progress.

Recipes/Menus

• Develop recipes and menus in compliance with the National School Lunch Program.

• Develop and implement a plan to roll out new menu items with an eye towards consistency and quality across all sites.

• Plan and execute student tastings for new menu items. Gather staff and student feedback and incorporate it into menu planning as appropriate.

Procurement

• Assist with sourcing products or ingredients and finding vendors.
• Recommend and help source smallwares. Advise on equipment needs.

Other

• Oversee a Brigaid Chef.
• Participate in interviews for prospective foodservice staff and offer hiring recommendations.
• Participate in occasional district- or community-wide events, such as career fairs, back-to-school nights, and community meals.
• Document your progress in a daily journal and discuss with your Brigaid regional chef during regular Zoom calls.

•...