Chef Manager - Dietary
Company : Prime Healthcare Services
Location : Kankakee, IL, 60901
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 8 January 2026
Overview
Department: Dietary
Schedule: Full-Time - Days
Facility: St. Mary’s Hospital- Kankakee
Location: Kankakee , IL 60901
Responsibilities
Establishes and oversees food production practices and kitchen operations to provide quality food service for patients, cafeteria visitors, physician dining and catered events. Provides staff education and development in the areas of culinary skills, food handling and sanitation practices. Supervises production employees as well as food service workers to ensure full compliance with federal, state and other regulatory agencies.
Qualifications
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING
1. Five (5) in healthcare food service with commercial, institutional cooking experience with two (2) years supervisory experience preferred
2. Food Safety Certification from an accredited organization and maintain current.
3. HAACP, CDM and/or CFPP certifications desired.
4. Culinary degree or certification desired.
5. Knowledge of therapeutic diets desired.
County Specific requirement.
County Specific Food Handlers certification required upon hire and maintained current.
The company is dedicated to empowering its staff with a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, allowing them the freedom to customize their benefits to fit their unique needs. Our abundant resources, programs, and voluntary options serve as a foundation for individual growth and well-being. Learn more here: https://www.primehealthcare.com/benefitsthatmattermost/
Pay Transparency
St. Mary's Hospital - Kankakee offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that provides employees the flexibility to tailor benefits according to their individual needs. Our Total Rewards package includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, a 401K retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and many more voluntary benefit options. A reasonable compensation estimate for this role, which includes estimated wages, benefits, and other forms of compensation, is $30.49 to $44.08 on an annualized basis. The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire, in which a wide range of factors will be considered, including but not limited to, skillset, years of applicable experience, education, credentials and licensure.
Employment Status
Full TimeShift
DaysEqual Employment Opportunity
Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Know Your Rights: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf
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Frequently asked questions
Earning certifications like food safety from accredited bodies, HAACP, CDM, or CFPP significantly enhances your profile for dietary chef roles in healthcare settings like St. Mary’s Hospital. Local food handler certifications are mandatory, reflecting Kankakee’s strict compliance standards for dietary managers.
Dietary food production management emphasizes therapeutic diets and regulatory compliance, contrasting with conventional kitchen execution. Supervising food service staff to meet healthcare nutrition standards in places like Prime Healthcare requires specialized knowledge beyond typical culinary skills.
Kankakee's healthcare sector shows steady demand for dietary managers with supervisory experience, reflecting regional growth in hospital services. Candidates with a blend of culinary and healthcare food service backgrounds tend to have better prospects locally.
Daily responsibilities include coordinating food prep for diverse patient needs, overseeing kitchen operations, and staff training on sanitation and culinary standards. Balancing cafeteria service with event catering creates a dynamic environment demanding strong management skills.
Positions like Chef Manager - Dietary at Prime Healthcare typically offer annualized pay between $30.49 and $44.08 per hour, factoring in comprehensive benefits. This aligns well with Kankakee’s market rates for healthcare food management roles, balancing experience and certifications.
Advancement opportunities include moving into executive chef or broader food and nutrition manager roles. Prime Healthcare supports professional development with tuition reimbursement and certification incentives, fostering upward mobility in healthcare food services.
Prime Healthcare offers a flexible benefits package allowing dietary managers to customize health, retirement, and voluntary perks. This approach supports individual wellness and aligns with the company’s dedication to empowering culinary leaders in a hospital environment.
Maintaining certifications such as local food handler permits alongside national credentials requires ongoing education. Kankakee’s regulatory environment enforces strict adherence, making continuous compliance essential for dietary managers in healthcare facilities.
A Chef Manager - Dietary combines culinary expertise with knowledge of therapeutic diets and healthcare regulations. Leadership in food safety, staff education, and managing special patient nutrition needs distinguishes this role from typical restaurant or corporate chef positions.
The hospital setting demands precision in dietary compliance, accommodating patient-specific nutritional needs daily. St. Mary’s focus on quality and safety shapes managers to emphasize regulatory adherence and collaborative kitchen leadership uncommon in other food service venues.