Child Care Center Chef - Itasca
About The Position
As a Chef at Bright Horizons, you will lead kitchen operations while preparing nutritious, thoughtfully planned meals that support children’s health, growth, and learning. Your creativity and care will help make mealtimes something children, educators, and staff look forward to. From menu planning to the final plate, your work will help shape rhythm of each day. Join a team where your contributions matter and where you are supported to grow professionally while making a meaningful difference each day. No nights or weekends! Must be available to work Monday - Friday between the hours of 8am - 3pm. Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference. At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others. You’re the Difference Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. Whether you're supporting children, families, or our client partners, your work matters — and so do you. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.
Requirements
- Candidates must pass required state and company background checks and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements: 18 years of age with a bachelor’s degree is required; a diploma in Culinary Arts is preferred
- Food handler certification within 30 days of hire is required
- This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons’, and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training.
- If hired, you will work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide food service per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.
- Physical demands include lifting and carrying food and supplies (typically 10 to 40 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds), standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, pushing carts, and performing repetitive kitchen and cleaning tasks.
- Employees must maintain mental and physical alertness and be able to respond immediately and appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working in early care and education settings is preferred
Responsibilities
- Plan, prepare, and oversee nutritious menus and daily meal service that meet budget guidelines, licensing standards, and state and federal nutritional requirements.
- Direct and support kitchen operations, including inventory management, food purchasing, vendor relationships, and supervision of kitchen staff.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and compliant kitchen environment by ensuring food safety, sanitation, allergy‑management, and health procedures are consistently followed.
Benefits
- Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Long-term and short-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools
- Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
- Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family
- Employee Referral Bonus Program
- Learn more at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/us/en/health-and-wellness
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
