Head Chef Jobs in Iowa
Head Chef jobs in Iowa are concentrated in full-service restaurants, hotel food and beverage operations, and casino resort dining, with steady demand at both sous chef pipeline and executive kitchen levels. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City are the primary hiring markets, where employers such as Prairie Meadows Casino, Marriott properties, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics food service operations maintain consistent kitchen leadership needs. Farm-to-table cuisine, banquet and events cooking, and institutional volume cooking are among the most sought-after specialties across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Additional Considerations (if any):
At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.
Job Description:
Job Title: Sushi Chef
Department: Asian
FLSA : Non-Exempt
General Function :
As a Sushi Chef, this position will be responsible for preparing and filling customer orders and handling food in a safe manner. You will order and receive products; ensure orders are correct; labels, dates and puts product away. Additionally you will ensure a positive company image by providing courteous, friendly, and efficient customer service to customers and team members.
Core Competencies
- Partnerships
- Growth mindset
- Results oriented
- Customer focused
- Professionalism
Reporting Relations:
Accountable and Reports to: District Store Director; Store Manager; Assistant Managers of Store Operations, Perishables; and Health Wellness Home; Food Service Director; Asian Department Manager; Assistant Asian Department Manager; Service Managers
Positions that Report to you: Sushi Clerk
Primary Duties and Responsibilities :
- Prepares fresh sushi for customers both packaged and made-to-order.
- Provides prompt, efficient and friendly customer service by exhibiting caring, concern and patience in all customer interactions and treating customers as the most important people in the store.
- Smiles and greets customers in a friendly manner, whether the encounter takes place in the employee’s designated department or elsewhere in the store.
- Makes an effort to learn customers’ names and to address them by name whenever possible.
- Answers the telephone promptly and provides friendly, helpful service to customers who call including taking product orders.
- Assists customers by: (examples include)
- escorting them to the products for which they’re looking
- securing products that are out of reach
- loading or unloading heavy items
- making note of and passing along customer suggestions or requests
- performing other tasks in every way possible to enhance the shopping experience
- Works with co-workers as a team and provides training to ensure customer satisfaction and a pleasant work environment.
- Understands and practices proper sanitation procedures and ensures the work area is always clean and neat.
- Involved in schedules and overseeing food ordering and planning.
- Communicates to customers on phone, in person, or on e-mail regarding food and food preparation.
- Aids in the merchandising techniques for sushi foods.
- Aids in the merchandising food layout.
- Attends company wide and industry meetings as assigned.
- Adheres to company policies and individual store guidelines.
- Reports to work when scheduled and on time
Secondary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plans and performs fresh sushi demonstrations.
- Stays current regarding meal trends and menu planning.
- Performs other job-related duties and special projects as required.
Education and Experience:
High school or equivalent with Hy-Vee food safety training and Food Safety Certified. One to three years of similar or related work. Prior experience in meal preparation is preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be physically able to exert up to 50 pounds of force frequently (energy exerted); and exert up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
- Visual requirements include vision from less than 20 inches to more than 20 feet with or without correction, depth perception, color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), and field of vision.
- Must be able to perform the following physical activities: Balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Worker Characteristics:
- Must have the ability to do logical or scientific thinking to solve problems with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to do arithmetic calculations involving fractions, decimals, and percentages.
- Possess the ability to compose original correspondence; follow technical manuals and have increased contact with people, talk with customers to identify their requests; guide people and provide basic direction.
Working Conditions :
This position is continually exposed to raw fish, flour, dust, noise, and temperature extremes. There is occasional exposure to cleaning chemicals/solvents. This is a fast paced work environment with significant pressure.
Equipment Used to Perform Job:
Oven, steamer, scale, big mixer, shrink wrap machine, Telexon re-ordering machine, register, walk-in-cooler, knives, serving cases and C.A.R.S. system.
Contacts:
Has daily contact with internal customers and the general public. Has weekly contact with suppliers and vendors. Has contact with Federal and State government and/or regulatory agencies as necessary.
Are you ready to smile, apply today.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.
See All 22 Head Chef Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Chef JobsHead Chef Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Chef Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head chef jobs across Iowa.
- Minimum five years of professional kitchen experience with progressive leadership responsibility
- Proven ability to develop menus, control food costs, and manage kitchen budgets
- ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent accredited food safety credential
- Experience hiring, training, and scheduling back-of-house kitchen staff
- Culinary arts degree or completion of a formal culinary apprenticeship program
- Ability to source local and seasonal Iowa ingredients and build relationships with regional vendors
Head Chef Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head chef in Iowa?
Iowa does not require a state-issued chef's license, but employers consistently expect a combination of formal culinary education and hands-on kitchen progression. Completing an accredited culinary arts program at institutions such as Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa State University Extension provides a strong foundation. Most Iowa employers require candidates to have worked through line cook and sous chef roles before stepping into a head chef position, and a current ServSafe Manager certification is a near-universal hiring requirement.
Which companies hire head chefs in Iowa?
Employers hiring head chefs in Iowa right now include Sodexo, Hy-Vee, and First Hospitality, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Casino resorts, university dining services, and full-service hotel groups are among the most consistent sources of head chef openings across the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most head chef jobs?
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Altoona have the most head chef openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the largest share of listings given its concentration of hotel properties, growing independent restaurant scene, and convention center food service operations, while Cedar Rapids and Iowa City contribute through university dining, healthcare food service, and regional restaurant groups anchored in those metro areas.
Are there remote head chef jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Head chef work is fundamentally hands-on, requiring direct kitchen oversight, and the role does not lend itself to remote arrangements. About 0% of head chef openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those listings typically involve recipe development consulting, virtual culinary education, or corporate menu planning roles rather than traditional kitchen leadership positions.
How can I get hired as a head chef in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a line cook or prep cook position at a large Iowa employer and advancing through the kitchen hierarchy. Des Moines Area Community College and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids offer culinary arts programs with externship placements at Iowa restaurants and hotels, giving candidates documented kitchen hours. University dining operations at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University frequently hire kitchen staff at entry level and promote from within, making them practical starting points for candidates building toward a head chef role.
Where can I find and apply to head chef jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to head chef jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 22 Head Chef Jobs in Iowa
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