Entry Level Chef Jobs
New grad chef jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or internship work in a kitchen can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Tourism, and Media & Entertainment, with employers like Sodexo, MGM Resorts International, and Aramark hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 96+ Entry Level Chef jobs
INTRODUCTION
Sodexo Campus Dining is seeking an Executive Chef 2 located in Oneonta, NY. Our resident dining program includes 2 unlimited dining facilities, a large retail marketplace that provides grocery items, fresh-made sushi, grill, and pizza. We also feature 3 coffee and snack shops, including a Starbucks, Dragon Tea, and Seasons Café. We have a large catering department and one of the only accounts to have a full-service bakery on campus. While in full operation, we have 115 full-time unionized employees, 30 managers/supervisor/office staff, and employ 200 part-time students. Our dedicated long-term staff is proud to offer healthy and nutritious menus that fit the ever-changing needs and lifestyles of our students.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Help lead and provide leadership and supervision for the university dining and ensures client satisfaction and retention for the company.
Implements business practices in order to uphold company mission, values, and commitments made in the Sodexo client contractual agreement.
Directs daily operations of food production, including menu planning, purchasing, ordering, inventory, food preparation, post-meal analysis, and record-keeping.
Ensure employees have appropriate equipment, inventory, and resources to perform their jobs and meet goals and deadlines.
Establishes operating standards, implements and maintains Sodexo and branded concepts standards, creates quality improvements and communicates them to employees.
Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations as well as Sodexo/client policies and procedures (e.g., HACCP, quality assurance, safety, operations, personnel, and EcoSure).
Trains other chefs/staff on culinary skills through day-to-day training as well as the use of Culinary Foundations training and standards, and serves as technical expert.
Maintain and develop client relationships and client satisfaction for all aspects of food production to ensure account retention.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
A passion for food and innovation.
An outstanding culinary background, with the demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams and stay current with new culinary trends;
Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to maintain the highest culinary standards;
Strong coaching and employee development skills.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 2 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
INTRODUCTION
Sodexo Campus Dining is seeking an Executive Chef 2 located in Oneonta, NY. Our resident dining program includes 2 unlimited dining facilities, a large retail marketplace that provides grocery items, fresh-made sushi, grill, and pizza. We also feature 3 coffee and snack shops, including a Starbucks, Dragon Tea, and Seasons Café. We have a large catering department and one of the only accounts to have a full-service bakery on campus. While in full operation, we have 115 full-time unionized employees, 30 managers/supervisor/office staff, and employ 200 part-time students. Our dedicated long-term staff is proud to offer healthy and nutritious menus that fit the ever-changing needs and lifestyles of our students.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Help lead and provide leadership and supervision for the university dining and ensures client satisfaction and retention for the company.
Implements business practices in order to uphold company mission, values, and commitments made in the Sodexo client contractual agreement.
Directs daily operations of food production, including menu planning, purchasing, ordering, inventory, food preparation, post-meal analysis, and record-keeping.
Ensure employees have appropriate equipment, inventory, and resources to perform their jobs and meet goals and deadlines.
Establishes operating standards, implements and maintains Sodexo and branded concepts standards, creates quality improvements and communicates them to employees.
Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations as well as Sodexo/client policies and procedures (e.g., HACCP, quality assurance, safety, operations, personnel, and EcoSure).
Trains other chefs/staff on culinary skills through day-to-day training as well as the use of Culinary Foundations training and standards, and serves as technical expert.
Maintain and develop client relationships and client satisfaction for all aspects of food production to ensure account retention.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
A passion for food and innovation.
An outstanding culinary background, with the demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams and stay current with new culinary trends;
Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to maintain the highest culinary standards;
Strong coaching and employee development skills.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 2 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
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Find Entry Level Chef JobsEntry Level Chef Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Sodexo55
- MGM Resorts International5
- Aramark3
- The Waters2
- Virgin Hotels2
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage59
- Hospitality & Tourism17
- Media & Entertainment5
- Retail3
- Sports & Recreation3
Entry Level Chef Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level chef job?
Start by building hands-on experience through culinary school externships, unpaid stages, or part-time prep cook roles. Employers at this level look for knife skills, basic cooking techniques, and the ability to work a line under pressure. A concise portfolio showing dishes you have prepared, even from coursework or personal projects, can give you a real edge over candidates who only have a resume.
Which companies hire entry level chefs?
Companies hiring entry level chefs right now include Sodexo, MGM Resorts International, and Aramark, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The hiring mix at this level typically includes independent restaurants, hotel food and beverage programs, contract dining services, and fast-casual chains that train new kitchen staff on the job.
Are there remote entry level chef jobs?
Yes, though most chef roles are hands-on and on-site by nature. About 0% of entry level chef openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions tend to involve culinary content creation, recipe development, or food styling rather than traditional kitchen work. If you are open to those adjacent roles, they are worth including in your search.
Are these new grad chef jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or externships toward requirements, or explicitly accepts a portfolio in place of professional kitchen history. If a listing does not require prior employment and mentions training, it is a strong fit for a new grad candidate entering the field.
Which industries hire the most entry level chefs?
Entry level chef roles concentrate in Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Tourism, and Media & Entertainment, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they maintain consistent volume, run structured kitchen teams that can onboard junior staff, and rely on a steady pipeline of new talent to fill prep and line positions.