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Marine Cook Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Hospitality Specialist, Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra, VA

$19.77/hr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... a protected Marine National Monument. The Nature Conservancy owns and operates a Preserve at ... Cooking and hosting at TNC's Palmyra Preserve are unique experiences. Although TNC maintains ...

Warehouse Machine Operator - Chesapeake, VA

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$20/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Hours: 7AM to 4PM Mon-Fri with an hour for lunch Pay: $20/hr + full benefits Location: 3800 Cook ... of marine shipbuilding cable for over 70 years. We are a specialty distributor of cable and ...

Food Service Assistant Project Manager

Stafford, VA · On-site

$45K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Will ensure ServiceSource employees meet Sodexo and Marine Corps requirements concerning appearance ... cooks. * Performs other responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications: Education, Experience and ...

Food Service Assistant Project Manager

Quantico, VA · On-site

$45K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Will ensure ServiceSource employees meet Sodexo and Marine Corps requirements concerning appearance ... cooks. * Performs other responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications: Education, Experience and ...

Marine Cook information

See Virginia salary details

$8

$15

$21

How much do marine cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for marine cook in Virginia is $15.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.37 and $17.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a marine cook?

Marine Cooks are culinary professionals responsible for preparing and cooking meals on ships, including commercial vessels, ferries, and offshore platforms. They manage galley operations, plan menus, order supplies, and ensure that food is prepared safely and hygienically for the crew and passengers. Marine Cooks must also comply with maritime food safety regulations and often work in challenging conditions at sea. Their role is crucial in maintaining crew morale and health during long voyages.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a marine cook, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Marine Cook, you need expertise in food preparation, safety, and nutrition, typically supported by culinary training and relevant maritime certifications like the Ship's Cook Certificate. Familiarity with galley equipment, inventory management systems, and food safety regulations is essential. Strong organizational skills, adaptability, and teamwork are crucial soft skills for managing meal service in confined and sometimes challenging conditions. These abilities ensure safe, efficient meal preparation and contribute to crew morale and well-being on board.

What are some common challenges faced by marine cooks when preparing meals at sea?

Marine Cooks often face unique challenges, such as limited storage space, unpredictable weather affecting kitchen stability, and the need to prepare nutritious meals for a diverse crew with varying dietary needs. Meal planning must account for long voyages, which means managing ingredient freshness and minimizing waste. Additionally, Marine Cooks work closely with other crew members and must coordinate meal times around shift schedules, requiring flexibility and strong organizational skills.

What is the difference between Marine Cook vs Marine Steward?

AspectMarine CookMarine Steward
CertificationsFood safety, STCW Basic Safety TrainingSTCW Basic Safety Training, Crowd Management
Work EnvironmentKitchen, galley on shipsPassenger areas, dining rooms, ship decks
Job FocusFood preparation and cookingPassenger service, safety, and hospitality
Industry UsageMaritime, cruise ships, cargo vesselsPassenger ships, cruise lines

Marine Cooks primarily focus on preparing meals in the ship's galley, requiring culinary skills and safety certifications. Marine Stewards, on the other hand, handle passenger service, safety, and hospitality duties. Both roles are essential in maritime hospitality but differ in responsibilities and work environment.

Can you be a Marine Cook in the Marines?

Yes, the Marine Corps employs Marine Cooks as part of their culinary specialists, responsible for preparing meals for service members. Candidates typically need to meet enlistment requirements, complete basic training, and receive specialized culinary training at Marine Corps schools.

What are popular job titles related to Marine Cook jobs in Virginia?

For Marine Cook jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Marine Cook jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Marine Cook jobs in Virginia are:

Infographic showing various Marine Cook job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $33,054 per year, or $15.9 per hour.

Hospitality Specialist, Palmyra Atoll

Nature

Palmyra, VA

$19.77/hr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The staff and facilities on TNC's Palmyra Preserve supports scientific research by TNC, the USFWS, and world-renowned research institutions. Staff are hired on a seasonal basis for approximately 3 months at a time to run the operations, maintain the facilities and support visitor and research trips. Board and lodging are provided while on-island.

Palmyra Atoll is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas on Earth. Located 1,000 miles south of Hawai'i, Palmyra is a 680-acre atoll with 480,000 acres of lagoons, coral reefs, and submerged lands. TNC's Palmyra Preserve is located within a US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Refuge within a protected Marine National Monument. The Nature Conservancy owns and operates a Preserve at Palmyra to care for this special place while learning and developing innovations to improve ecosystem health and resilience and enhance biodiversity. Supporting research and management at Palmyra is a rewarding challenge for the right applicant (see nature.org/palmyra).

The Hospitality Specialist is responsible for planning and preparing the facilities to receive visitors. They are responsible for daily galley clean-up including dishes, floors, storage areas, bathrooms and showers and systematic deep cleaning of all cabins, associated living areas, recreation areas and the galley. This position is also responsible for planning and preparation of high-quality meals, of breakfast, lunch and dinner for guests, staff, and volunteers. The Hospitality Specialist is responsible for tracking inventory, stocking food items in refrigerators, freezers and dry storage, and the proper rotation of all food and hospitality inventory items to ensure efficiency, organization, and safety. The Hospitality Specialist, like all Palmyra seasonal staff, should have the ability to respond to medical emergencies and other duties as assigned.

Cooking and hosting at TNC's Palmyra Preserve are unique experiences. Although TNC maintains commercial cleanliness standards, the Palmyra Program does not operate a "commercial kitchen." To maintain these standards in Palmyra's challenging environment, our Hospitality staff spend approximately 50% of their time doing daily and deep cleaning. Palmyra's galley produces meals based on a simple inventory that includes shelf stable items. Producing high quality meals from a predetermined ingredient list requires our cooks to have the ability to make many items from scratch and to have the creativity to incorporate canned and packaged food into high quality meals for guests and staff.

We're Looking for You:

We're looking for someone experienced in housekeeping and producing high quality meals for a remote facility. If you are eager to be part of a dedicated group that supports terrestrial and marine conservation, apply today!

The successful candidate must possess, or be able to obtain, a valid Passport with an expiration date later than your term of employment, proof of a physical examination showing good health, a current tetanus vaccination and a first aid/CPR certification current throughout assignment.

What You'll Bring:
  • High school diploma or GED and at least 1 year of culinary experience in a professional food services environment within the last 5 years (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

  • Current working knowledge of kitchen operations, including meal presentations, baking, sauteing, grilling, and the preparation and proper handling of meat, fish, assorted cold foods, and safe knife handling skills.

  • Culinary experience maintaining a sanitary kitchen work environment and knowledge of a facility deep cleaning process. ServeSafe or equivalent certification.

  • Experience with MS Word and Excel in producing reports and maintaining inventories

  • Ability to perform physically demanding work and lift up to 50 pounds, sometimes under adverse conditions.

Salary Information:

The starting pay rate for this position is generally $19.77 per hour. Returning Palmyra staff are provided higher rates due to experience.

The Nature Conservancy is unable to provide work permit sponsorship for this position.Only applicants currently eligible to work in the United States will be considered. Applicants are required to confirm residency in a U.S. state or territory where TNC is registered for tax withholding and workers' compensation insurance purposes.In compliance with federal law, all new hires will be required to verify identity and complete form confirming eligibility to work in the U.S.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant's unique experience. Please apply - we'd love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, "you'll join for the mission, and stay for the people."

What We Bring:


Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We're proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.


The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.