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Volunteer Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position also assists with leading volunteer meal groups in meal preparation and service while ... The Chef Assistant supports compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, regulations, safety ...

Voluntary plans such as vision, life and AD&D insurance, accident, hospitalization, critical ... Chef Thomas Keller raises the bar for the American culinary scene. His restaurants are legendary ...

Head Chef

Brewster, WA · On-site

$78K - $90K/yr

Head Chef / operational and procurement focus. Compensation: $78,000 - $90,000 BOE Overseeing food ... Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance • Identity Theft Insurance • Employee Assistance ...

Sous Chef

Boca Raton, FL

$47.40K - $64.10K/yr

Woodfield Boca Raton is seeking an experienced Sous Chef for our state-of-the-art dining outlets ... Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance * Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance * 401(k) ...

Sous Chef

Huntingdon Valley, PA · On-site

$49K - $66.20K/yr

Benefits-- Sous Chef * Medical, Dental, Vision offerings (for benefit eligible associates ... Voluntary benefits including: Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, legal ...

Sous Chef

Boca Raton, FL

$47.40K - $64.10K/yr

Woodfield Boca Raton is seeking an experienced Sous Chef for our state-of-the-art dining outlets ... Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance 401(k) ...

Chef Manager Job Reference Number: 38100 Employment Type: Full-Time , Onsite Segment: Dining ... Voluntary UNUM offering for Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity * Discount Program

Sous Chef

Boca Raton, FL · On-site

$47.40K - $64.10K/yr

Woodfield Boca Raton is seeking an experienced Sous Chef for our state-of-the-art dining outlets ... Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance 401(k) ...

Chef Tournant

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65K - $70K/yr

Position Overview - Chef Tournant At theWit Chicago, the Chef Tournant is a versatile culinary ... Voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD): Additional protection for extended disability. * Commuter ...

Sous Chef

Wilmington, DE

$48.50K - $65.50K/yr

Platinum Dining Group is offering a great opportunity for aspiring chefs! For those passionate ... Voluntary Benefits * Short-term disability * Life insurances * Accident insurance * Paid time off ...

Sous Chef

Wilmington, DE

$48.50K - $65.50K/yr

Platinum Dining Group is offering a great opportunity for aspiring chefs! For those passionate ... Voluntary Benefits * Short-term disability * Life insurances * Accident insurance * Paid time off ...

Sous Chef

Wilmington, DE · On-site

$48.50K - $65.50K/yr

Platinum Dining Group is offering a great opportunity for aspiring chefs! For those passionate ... Voluntary Benefits * Short-term disability * Life insurances * Accident insurance * Paid time off ...

Sous Chef

Wilmington, DE

$48.50K - $65.50K/yr

Platinum Dining Group is offering a great opportunity for aspiring chefs! For those passionate ... Voluntary Benefits * Short-term disability * Life insurances * Accident insurance * Paid time off ...

Sous Chef

Saint Petersburg, FL · On-site

$48.30K - $65.20K/yr

The Sous Chef assists the Executive Chef in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Food ... Supervise cooks and volunteers in the preparation and serving of meals * Help fulfill food vouchers ...

... Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans · Employee Assistance Program · Commuter benefits · Employee Discounts · Free hot healthy meals for unit operations roles Main Duties and ...

Sous Chef

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef or the Executive Chef for the unit, the Sous Chef, Operations ... Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans * Employee Assistance Program * Commuter benefits

Sous Chef

Denver, CO

$65K - $70K/yr

Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef or the Executive Chef for the unit, the Sous Chef, Operations ... insurance Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans Employee Assistance Program Commuter ...

Sous Chef

Port Charlotte, FL · On-site

$21.23/hr

The Sous Chef assists the Executive Chef in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Food ... Supervise cooks and volunteers in the preparation and serving of meals * Help fulfill food vouchers ...

Sous Chef

Tampa, FL · On-site

$45.60K - $61.50K/yr

The Sous Chef assists the Executive Chef in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Food ... Supervise cooks and volunteers in the preparation and serving of meals * Help fulfill food vouchers ...

Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef or the Executive Chef for the unit, the Sous Chef, Operations ... Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans * Employee Assistance Program * Commuter benefits

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Volunteer Chef information

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$8

$19

$33

How much do volunteer chef jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for volunteer chef in the United States is $19.14, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $20.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Volunteer Chef, you need basic culinary skills, food safety knowledge, and often prior kitchen experience or relevant training. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food handling certifications (like a food handler's permit), and menu planning tools are commonly required. Strong teamwork, adaptability, and excellent communication distinguish outstanding Volunteer Chefs, especially when working with diverse groups or limited resources. These skills ensure safe, efficient meal preparation and a positive impact on the community being served.

What are some common challenges faced by Volunteer Chefs, and how can they be managed effectively?

Volunteer Chefs often work with limited resources, such as donated ingredients and basic kitchen equipment, which can make meal planning and preparation more challenging. Flexibility and creativity are essential for adapting recipes and ensuring balanced meals with what's available. Additionally, Volunteer Chefs frequently collaborate with a diverse team of volunteers, so strong communication and teamwork skills help ensure smooth kitchen operations. Managing time efficiently and maintaining food safety standards are also key aspects of the role.

What are Volunteer Chefs?

Volunteer Chefs are individuals who donate their time and culinary skills to cook meals for organizations such as shelters, community kitchens, schools, or charitable events. They often work without pay to help provide nutritious food to people in need or to support fundraising efforts. Volunteer Chefs may assist with meal planning, food preparation, cooking, and sometimes serving, depending on the organization’s needs. This role is a meaningful way to give back to the community and gain valuable experience in a kitchen setting.

What is the difference between Volunteer Chef vs Professional Chef?

AspectVolunteer ChefProfessional Chef
CredentialsMay not require formal culinary certificationsTypically requires culinary degrees or certifications
Work EnvironmentCommunity kitchens, charity events, sheltersRestaurants, hotels, catering companies
Employer & IndustryNonprofit organizations, community serviceHospitality, food service industry
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding volunteer opportunities, casual cooking rolesCareer development, professional skills

Volunteer Chefs often work in community or charity settings without formal certifications, focusing on service and outreach. Professional Chefs work in commercial kitchens, requiring culinary credentials and industry experience. The main difference lies in credentials, work environment, and career focus, though both roles involve cooking and food preparation.

More about Volunteer Chef jobs
What cities are hiring for Volunteer Chef jobs? Cities with the most Volunteer Chef job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Chef jobs? The most popular types of Chef jobs are:
What states have the most Volunteer Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Volunteer Chef jobs include:
Infographic showing various Volunteer Chef job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $39,804 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Chef Assistant

Ronald Mcdonald House I

Saint Louis, MO • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of St. Louis

KEEPING FAMILIES CLOSE

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities is to provide comfort, care, and a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children. Our objective is to enable families to practice family-centered care by providing them with the basic comforts of home during difficult times.

We are excited to welcome a full-time Chef Assistant to our mission-focused team of professionals dedicated to compassion, hospitality, and exceptional family support. This is a unique opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen alongside and under the leadership of an experienced Executive Chef, helping create comforting, home-style meals for families staying at the House.

The Chef Assistant plays an important role in supporting the daily meal service program, maintaining the organization and cleanliness of the kitchen, and ensuring a warm and welcoming dining experience for families and volunteers alike.

This position also assists with leading volunteer meal groups in meal preparation and service while following ServSafe protocols and maintaining high standards for food safety and sanitation.

The Chef Assistant supports compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, regulations, safety standards, and sanitation procedures.

As part of the RMHC team, this position collaborates closely with staff, volunteers, and community partners to achieve departmental and organizational goals in support of the RMHC mission and Core Values.

Schedule: This position is scheduled for weekdays from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, plus one consistent weekend shift per week. Employees receive two days off per week.

Basic Qualifications

  • A minimum of 5 years of culinary experience
  • Must have food handler and/or ServSafe certifications
  • Understanding of nutrition, food costing and sourcing, meal production and planning;
  • Extensive knowledge of health and safety rules and regulations pertaining to commercial food establishments including sanitation and maintenance regulations;
  • Knowledge of commercial restaurant equipment

Essential Functions

  • Operations
    • Assists with the operation of commercial kitchen areas.
    • Assists with a safe and healthy food service program that will deliver quality, variety, service, cleanliness, and value for Ronald McDonald House guests, volunteers, and staff, including internal house events, functions, and meetings.
    • Follows all food safety and sanitation requirements and practices to maintain high standards of quality control, hygiene, health, and safety.
    • Participates in the safe preparation and serving of food with attention to portion size control and timely service.
    • Assists with inventory supply system to stock pantries and minimize waste, utilizing first in/first out procedures.
    • Ensures cleaning checklist and temperature requirements are being logged.
    • Supports the cleanliness, sanitation and equipment maintenance of kitchen and dining areas.
    • Provides direction, coordination, and supervision to volunteer meal groups.
  • Regular and reliable attendance

Nonessential Functions

  • Assists with Special projects, as requested
  • Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

Must be able to concentrate and remain focused while handling multiple tasks, responsibilities and projects. Must be able to perform bending, twisting, stooping, reaching, and lifting of moderate to heavy weight material up to 50 lbs. Must be able to frequently climb stairs, including up to 3 flights, and frequently walk distances up to approximately 80 yards. Must be able to travel between RMH locations as needed.

Working Conditions

This job operates in a kitchen environment, housed with equipment such as an oven, stove, dishwasher, slicer, coffee machine, steamer, fryer, mixer, and commercial grade knives. The employee is frequently exposed to heat, steam, fire and noise. This job also operates in a professional work environment.

Please visit https://rmhcstl.org/about/careers-internships/ to apply directly to this posting.