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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Overview

Open roles22
Top employerSodexo
Top cityDes Moines, IA
Cities hiring15
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood

Showing 5 of 22+ Head Chef jobs

Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 3d ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Johnston, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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StoryPoint
Executive Chef
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StoryPoint
Added 1w ago
Executive Chef
StoryPoint
Ankeny, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Support
Sales
1,001-5,000

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
We won't show you this job again
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Business Strategy
Growth Marketing
Product Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Mason City, Iowa
Business Strategy
Growth Marketing
Product Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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Hilton
Executive Chef - Hilton Des Moines Downtown
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Hilton
Added 2w ago
Executive Chef - Hilton Des Moines Downtown
Hilton
Des Moines, Iowa
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
10,000+

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See All 22 Head Chef Jobs in Iowa

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Head Chef Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Des Moines
4 jobs
Cedar Rapids
4 jobs
Altoona
2 jobs
Ames
1 job
Ankeny
1 job
Johnston
1 job
Waterloo
1 job
Iowa City
1 job
Northwood
1 job

Head Chef Job Market in Iowa

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

Who's Hiring

Sodexo
Sodexo3 open roles
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee3 open roles
First Hospitality
First Hospitality2 open roles

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

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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