About the role
Lead Cook, In-School
About the Role
Join a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen where your culinary skills make a difference every day! As the Lead Cook, you’ll be part of a 3–5-person team preparing over 1,000 fresh, made-from-scratch school lunches that meet Red Rabbit’s high standards for quality and consistency.
This role is perfect for an experienced cook who loves teamwork, thrives in a busy kitchen, and takes pride in serving nutritious meals to kids. You’ll gain hands-on experience in an in-school operation and grow alongside a passionate, mission-driven culinary team.
If you thrive in a fast-moving kitchen, take pride in your craft, and want to be part of a team making a real impact on kids’ health, we’d love to have you join the Red Rabbit family.
What You’ll Do
- Take ownership of consistency, quality, and presentation for every batch prepared - Work independently from prep lists while coordinating with the Kitchen Manager to prioritize production - Read daily menus and production sheets to prepare, portion, and weigh food according to Red Rabbit recipes and DC guidelines - Cook, cool, plate, and pack meals with care and efficiency - Maintain the highest DOH standards by keeping workstations and equipment clean and organized
What You Bring
- 3+ years of professional culinary experience in a high-volume kitchen, commissary, or cafeteria setting - Proven ability to produce 500+ meals with speed and consistency - Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices (ServSafe required within 90 days—reimbursement provided) - Team-oriented, organized, and self-motivated with a positive attitude - Passion for healthy food and improving nutrition in schools - Ability to lift up to 50 lbs regularly - Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus
Job Type: Full Time Typical Hours: Monday - Friday approx 6:00 am - 2:00 pm Location: Washington, D.C. Reports to: Chef Compensation: $19.00 - 22.50 hr (plus benefits)
Benefits Generous PTO Most National Holidays Off Health, Dental, Vision Insurance 401k Option Professional Development Education Reimbursement Opportunities
About The Company
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.
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