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Associate Chef Jobs in Manchester, CT (NOW HIRING)

This position assists the Chef with the day-to-day operations of the food department. Primary ... Associates' Degree or a two year Culinary Degree * Five years of culinary experience in a high ...

Sous Chef - Beauty & Essex

Uncasville, CT · On-site

$48K - $65K/yr

Two-year associate degree (60 credit hours) in Culinary Arts or equivalent work experience ... Tao Group Hospitality in-venue Sous Chef Training, Food Handling Certificate. Physical Demands and ...

Line Cook

Bloomfield, CT · On-site

$15.75 - $19.75/hr

Maintains a professional relationship with fellow associates. * Helps reduce loss/waste. * Communicates equipment repair needs with chef. * Actively participates in training efforts. * Incorporates ...

Line Cook

Bloomfield, CT · On-site

$15.75 - $19.75/hr

Maintains a professional relationship with fellow associates. * Helps reduce loss/waste. * Communicates equipment repair needs with chef. * Actively participates in training efforts. * Incorporates ...

Showing results 41-60

Associate Chef information

See Manchester, CT salary details

$9

$15

$21

How much do associate chef jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate chef in Manchester, CT is $15.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.61 and $17.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate chef?

Associate Chefs are culinary professionals who assist head chefs or executive chefs in preparing meals, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring food quality and safety standards are met. They often handle tasks such as ingredient preparation, cooking, plating dishes, and supervising junior kitchen staff. Associate Chefs play a key role in maintaining efficient kitchen operations and may also help with menu planning and inventory management. This role is ideal for those looking to advance their culinary careers and gain valuable hands-on experience.

What are the primary ways associate chefs collaborate with other kitchen staff during service?

As an Associate Chef, you’ll work closely with the Executive and Sous Chefs to ensure that dishes are prepared efficiently and to the restaurant’s standards. You’ll often coordinate with line cooks, prep staff, and servers to manage the flow of orders, address any issues with ingredients or timing, and maintain a smooth service. Strong communication skills and teamwork are essential, as you may need to step in to help with plating, quality control, or training new kitchen team members. This collaborative environment is fast-paced but rewarding, offering opportunities to learn from more experienced chefs and contribute to a cohesive team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate chef, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Chef, you need a solid background in culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations, often gained through a culinary degree or relevant kitchen experience. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, inventory management systems, and certifications such as ServSafe are typically required. Strong teamwork, multitasking, and communication skills help you excel in high-pressure environments and support the head chef effectively. These competencies ensure consistent food quality, smooth kitchen workflow, and a positive dining experience for guests.

What is the difference between Associate Chef vs Line Cook?

AspectAssociate ChefLine Cook
Credentials Culinary degree or equivalent experience Often no formal degree, on-the-job training
Work Environment Kitchen, often with supervisory duties Kitchen, focused on specific station
Employer Usage Restaurants, hotels, catering services Restaurants, food service establishments
Common Search Intent Roles with some responsibility, leadership Entry-level, station-specific tasks

The main difference between an Associate Chef and a Line Cook is that an Associate Chef typically has more culinary training and may take on supervisory or assistant managerial roles, whereas a Line Cook focuses on preparing dishes at a specific station with less responsibility. Both roles are essential in professional kitchens, but the Associate Chef often has broader responsibilities and a higher level of experience.

What are the most commonly searched types of Chef jobs in Manchester, CT?

The most popular types of Chef jobs in Manchester, CT are:

What cities near Manchester, CT are hiring for Associate Chef jobs?

Cities near Manchester, CT with the most Associate Chef job openings:

CHEF - K-12 DINING PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT - WETHERSFIELD SCHOOLS

Compass Group

Wethersfield, CT • On-site

$60K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Compass Group rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 1,095 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

349th of 500 rated business services


Job description

Salary:  $60,000 - $65,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k w/company match, and PTO 

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Job Summary

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs.

Chartwells K12 is hiring a CHEF ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST to support our K12 dining programs across the school district in Wethersfield,CT with nearly 4,000 students. In this role you will be responsible for student engagement, programming schedules and promoting Mood Boost, Global Eats, Student Choice and other marketing/culinary events for our client.  In this role you will be responsible for the success of both the culinary and food service operation focused on K12 programs in school cafeterias.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provides culinary resources and support.
  • Assists with food cost control, menu planning, purchasing, and ensures food quality guidelines are followed.
  • Assists with planning and creating menus.
  • Produces and executes catering events.
  • Rolls out new culinary programs in conjunction with marketing and culinary team.
  • Assists with managing cost controls and control expenditures for the account.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Preffered Qualifications: 

  • Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts is preferred.
  • 1 to 3 years of culinary management experience.
  • Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
  • Hands-on chef experience is required.
  • Extensive catering experience is preferred.
  • High volume batch cooking and complex food service operations experience is preferred.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation.
  • ServSafe Certification is preferred.
  • Computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products including Excel.

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

 

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.  At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates at Chartwells K-12 are offered many fantastic benefits.

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance/ AD
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Paid Time Off
  • Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Discount Marketplace
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_ChartwellsK12.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/ 

Req ID:  1564676

Chartwells K12 

JENNIFER HILL

 [[req_classification]] 


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