Chef Jobs in Virginia

Chef jobs in Virginia are concentrated in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach, where restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups maintain steady demand for culinary professionals at every level from line cook to executive chef. Major employers with a lasting presence in the state include Marriott International, which is headquartered in Bethesda just outside Northern Virginia and operates properties throughout the region, Hilton Hotels, and large dining and contract food service operators such as Aramark. The most in-demand specialties are fine dining, banquet and catering, and fast-casual kitchen management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles124+
Top employerSodexo
Top cityArlington, VA
Cities hiring45
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood

Showing 5 of 124+ Chef jobs

Morrison Living
Chef Manager
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Morrison Living
New 15h ago
Chef Manager
Morrison Living
Richmond, Virginia
Manufacturing Operations
Project Management
Quality Control
$60k - $65k/yr
Food Handler Certification

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Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
Chef de Cuisine
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Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
New 16h ago
Chef de Cuisine
Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
$70k - $75k/yr
Associate's degree
501-1,000

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Hermitage Country Club
Executive Sous Chef
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Hermitage Country Club
New 21h ago
Executive Sous Chef
Hermitage Country Club
Manakin Sabot, Virginia
Manufacturing Operations
Project Management
Quality Control
High school diploma or GED
201-500

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Not Your Average Joe's
Sous Chef
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Not Your Average Joe's
New 21h ago
Sous Chef
Not Your Average Joe's
Woodbridge, Virginia
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$65k - $75k/yr
1,001-5,000

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Sodexo
Executive Chef 3
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Sodexo
Added 1d ago
Executive Chef 3
Sodexo
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Business Development
Program Management
Project Management
$89k - $116k/yr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Chef Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Arlington
19 jobs
McLean
10 jobs
Alexandria
7 jobs
Williamsburg
7 jobs
Norfolk
5 jobs
Virginia Beach
5 jobs
Fairfax
4 jobs
Sterling
4 jobs

Chef Job Market in Virginia

A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Sodexo
Sodexo5 open roles
Flik Independent School Dining
Flik Independent School Dining5 open roles
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Food & Beverage

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chef jobs across Virginia.

  • Valid food handler certification or ServSafe credential recognized in Virginia
  • Proven experience managing kitchen operations and supervising culinary staff
  • Proficiency with menu development, food costing, and inventory control
  • Ability to maintain compliance with Virginia Department of Health food safety regulations
  • Culinary arts degree or equivalent professional training from an accredited program
  • Strong knife skills and fluency across multiple cooking techniques and cuisines

Chef Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chef in Virginia?

Virginia does not require a state-issued chef license, but all food service workers must hold a food handler certification and food establishments must comply with Virginia Department of Health regulations. Most Virginia employers expect either a culinary arts degree from a program such as those offered at Johnson and Wales University or Northern Virginia Community College, or substantial professional kitchen experience. Earning a ServSafe Manager Certification strengthens any application significantly.

Which companies hire chefs in Virginia?

Virginia chef roles are posted by Sodexo, Flik Independent School Dining, and Kalahari Resorts & Conventions and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Northern Virginia's proximity to major hotel brands and federal event venues means large hospitality groups and contract food service companies are among the most consistent hirers in the state.

Which Virginia cities have the most chef jobs?

Arlington, McLean, and Richmond account for the largest share of chef openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia and Arlington drive volume through their dense concentration of hotels, catering operations, and corporate dining tied to the federal government corridor, while Richmond's growing independent restaurant scene and Virginia Beach's year-round tourism hospitality market keep demand strong in those metros.

Are there remote chef jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. Culinary work is fundamentally hands-on and tied to a physical kitchen, so remote arrangements are limited almost entirely to roles like recipe development consulting, culinary content creation, or virtual cooking instruction. About 0% of chef openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting just how on-site the profession remains. Recipe and menu development contracts represent the largest slice of that small remote share.

How can I get hired as a chef in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry point is a prep cook or line cook role at a high-volume Virginia operation such as a hotel kitchen, university dining facility, or contract food service employer, where structured on-the-job training replaces prior experience. Northern Virginia Community College and culinary programs at Virginia colleges offer certificates that Virginia employers recognize for entry-level candidates. Completing a ServSafe certification before applying gives candidates a clear edge, and volunteer or externship experience through accredited culinary programs is widely accepted in lieu of paid history.

Where can I find and apply to chef jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to chef jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, preferred location, and kitchen specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 124+ Chef Jobs in Virginia

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