Chef Jobs in Kentucky
Chef jobs in Kentucky are actively hiring across the state's growing restaurant scene, hotel and resort dining, and institutional foodservice sectors, with openings at every level from line cook to executive chef. Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green account for the largest share of postings, where established employers like Marriott hotels, Aramark, and the University of Kentucky dining operations maintain consistent staffing needs. The most in-demand specialties are banquet and catering production, farm-to-table cuisine, and high-volume institutional cooking. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Chef JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 32+ Chef jobs
About the Role
Five Star Breaktime Solutions is a premier provider of away-from-home convenience services, delivering innovative breaktime solutions that enhance customer experiences. The Chef Manager oversees daily operations at assigned dining locations, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and customer service. This role leads dining staff through scheduling, training, and performance management, while also cultivating creative, well-balanced menus that keep the dining experience fresh and appealing. The Chef Manager also monitors sanitation, inventory, and purchasing to maintain cost efficiency, handles financial and operational reporting, and serves as a key link between frontline staff and upper management.
What Five Star Has To Offer
Paid vacation.
Seven paid holidays.
401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans (individual and family coverage).
Voluntary FSA, life insurance, and short/long-term disability options.
Opportunity to support our 501(c)3 charity, Feeding the Future, Inc., which provides over 500,000 meals annually to children in need.
Opportunities for advancement.
Key Responsibilities
Monitor daily staff performance, maintain fair and consistent supervision, adjust schedules as needed, and coordinate workflows to maximize efficiency and customer service.
Train and orient new and existing staff on position requirements, company policies, facility rules, and performance expectations.
Track attendance, manage compliance with absenteeism policies, and recommend promotions, corrective action, or termination in accordance with company guidelines and HR.
Ensure staff follow approved recipes, proper food preparation methods, and established production standards.
Monitor and enforce food handling practices and sanitation standards in compliance with ServSafe and local health department codes.
Routinely inspect areas of responsibility and immediately report safety hazards, security concerns, or equipment issues to management.
Monitor and adjust staffing and production levels to ensure efficient, high-quality service across all assigned locations.
Oversee unit inventories, ensure proper requisition procedures are followed, and enforce use of company-approved vendors and cost-efficient supply usage.
Complete and submit all required financial records, production sheets, invoice logs, and inventory reports; monitor food costs and report irregularities to the District Dining Director.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
Ability to lift, bend, stoop, and reach throughout the day.
Must be able to consent to a drug screen and pre-employment background check.
ServSafe certification.
Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
About the Role
Five Star Breaktime Solutions is a premier provider of away-from-home convenience services, delivering innovative breaktime solutions that enhance customer experiences. The Chef Manager oversees daily operations at assigned dining locations, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and customer service. This role leads dining staff through scheduling, training, and performance management, while also cultivating creative, well-balanced menus that keep the dining experience fresh and appealing. The Chef Manager also monitors sanitation, inventory, and purchasing to maintain cost efficiency, handles financial and operational reporting, and serves as a key link between frontline staff and upper management.
What Five Star Has To Offer
Paid vacation.
Seven paid holidays.
401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans (individual and family coverage).
Voluntary FSA, life insurance, and short/long-term disability options.
Opportunity to support our 501(c)3 charity, Feeding the Future, Inc., which provides over 500,000 meals annually to children in need.
Opportunities for advancement.
Key Responsibilities
Monitor daily staff performance, maintain fair and consistent supervision, adjust schedules as needed, and coordinate workflows to maximize efficiency and customer service.
Train and orient new and existing staff on position requirements, company policies, facility rules, and performance expectations.
Track attendance, manage compliance with absenteeism policies, and recommend promotions, corrective action, or termination in accordance with company guidelines and HR.
Ensure staff follow approved recipes, proper food preparation methods, and established production standards.
Monitor and enforce food handling practices and sanitation standards in compliance with ServSafe and local health department codes.
Routinely inspect areas of responsibility and immediately report safety hazards, security concerns, or equipment issues to management.
Monitor and adjust staffing and production levels to ensure efficient, high-quality service across all assigned locations.
Oversee unit inventories, ensure proper requisition procedures are followed, and enforce use of company-approved vendors and cost-efficient supply usage.
Complete and submit all required financial records, production sheets, invoice logs, and inventory reports; monitor food costs and report irregularities to the District Dining Director.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
Ability to lift, bend, stoop, and reach throughout the day.
Must be able to consent to a drug screen and pre-employment background check.
ServSafe certification.
Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
See All 32 Chef Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chef JobsChef Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chef Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chef jobs across Kentucky.
- Culinary degree or completion of an accredited culinary arts program preferred
- Proven experience in a commercial or institutional kitchen environment
- Food Handler certification and current ServSafe Food Manager credentials required
- Ability to manage kitchen prep, line execution, and service under high-volume conditions
- Knowledge of local sourcing, seasonal menus, and Kentucky-region ingredient availability
- Strong communication skills for coordinating with front-of-house and catering teams
Chef Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chef in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not require a state-issued chef license, but most employers require a ServSafe Food Manager certification and a food handler card, both recognized statewide. The most direct path is completing a culinary arts program at a Kentucky institution such as Sullivan University in Louisville or Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, then building experience through kitchen roles at restaurants, hotels, or institutional foodservice operations.
Which companies hire chefs in Kentucky?
Companies currently hiring chefs in Kentucky include The Mint Gaming Hall, Levy, and Morrison Healthcare, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Kentucky's hospitality corridor along Louisville's restaurant row and the University of Kentucky's large dining infrastructure make the state a consistent source of openings across both commercial and institutional kitchens.
Which Kentucky cities have the most chef jobs?
Louisville, Lexington, and Ashland have the most chef openings in Kentucky. Louisville drives the largest share through its hotel conference centers, bourbon-country tourism dining, and growing independent restaurant scene, while Lexington's university population and Bowling Green's expanding hospitality sector contribute steady demand in their respective markets.
Are there remote chef jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of chef openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on, kitchen-based nature of most culinary roles. The parts of chef work most likely to appear remote are recipe development consulting, menu planning, and culinary education roles that do not require daily on-site production.
How can I get hired as a chef in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for prep cook or kitchen assistant roles at high-volume Kentucky employers such as university dining programs, hospital foodservice contractors like Aramark, or hotel banquet kitchens in Louisville and Lexington. Earning a ServSafe Food Manager certification before applying gives candidates a clear edge. Many of these employers run structured kitchen training for new hires, making them practical starting points for candidates transitioning from food service roles like dishwasher or cashier.
Where can I find and apply to chef jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to chef jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 32 Chef Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chef Jobs