Job Description

Corporate Executive Chef for Colleges & Universities

At Creative Dining Services, food is how we connect people, inspire communities, and elevate experiences. As our Corporate Executive Chef for Colleges & Universities, you'll be the architect of culinary excellence, building scalable standards and systems that support strong performance while empowering local teams to execute with pride and creativity.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role for a seasoned culinary professional who thrives on influence and impact. With approximately 75% travel, the role is designed for someone located near a major national airport who loves being on the move, mentoring chefs, jumping into kitchens, and championing consistency and creativity across campus dining operations.

Who You Are

You are an ethical, service-driven culinary leader who inspires trust and collaboration. You pair strong financial acumen with a proven ability to lead culinary operations at scale, balancing creativity with discipline and innovation with consistent execution.

You are a hungry, humble, and smart team player who thrives in a people-first culture and takes extreme ownership by aligning people, processes, and performance to drive excellence.

Above all, you believe great food brings people together, and you know how to influence and empower teams to deliver on that promise every day.

What You'll Do

Lead Culinary Excellence

• Champion and uphold enterprise-wide culinary standards, food safety practices, and quality expectations across all locations
• Serve as the culinary subject matter expert to guide technique, flavor profiles, sustainable sourcing, and wellness-focused solutions
• Travel regularly to client accounts, ensuring concepts are executed with precision and brand integrity
• Partner with operations teams to improve ordering, prep, production efficiency, and cost controls
• Diagnose culinary and operational challenges, create corrective action plans, and deliver hands-on training
• Provide leadership and support for high-profile catering events and special initiatives

Influence Menu Development & Innovation

• Contribute to enterprise-wide menu planning that balances consistency, scalability, and market relevance
• Develop, test, and standardize new recipes that drive guest satisfaction and sales
• Design and evaluate new dining concepts, including presentation standards and production workflows
• Collaborate on redesigns of existing venues and launches of new food concepts

Support New Business & Growth

• Play a key role in new business development, start-ups, and openings from sales discovery through post-launch
• Build culinary strategies for assigned market segments, identifying capability gaps and growth opportunities
• Create innovative culinary plans that enhance client engagement, employee satisfaction, and brand differentiation

Teach, Mentor & Inspire

• Deliver culinary training, demonstrations, and hands-on coaching nationwide
• Develop chefs and field teams in culinary fundamentals, retail trends, and emerging food innovations
• Mentor incumbent chefs and support Certified Sous Chef Apprentices through the American Culinary Federation partnership

Collaborate Across the Organization

• Partner with Marketing to develop culinary standards guides and maintain brand consistency
• Work closely with Operations and shared services to ensure adoption of systems, tools, and best practices
• Align culinary strategies with organizational goals and client commitments

What You Bring

• Culinary Arts degree (or related) and 10+ years of progressive culinary experience. Experience in higher education and across multiple sectors preferred.
• Proven ability to lead culinary operations at scale with strong financial acumen (food cost, labor, pricing, forecasting)
• Deep understanding of hospitality operations, guest experience, and evolving consumer trends
• Exceptional coaching and teaching skills with an eye for detail and consistency
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to assess systems, workflows, and performance
• Proficiency with MS Office, recipe management systems, and business software
• ServSafe and allergen certifications
• Valid driver's license and comfort with frequent travel

Work Environment

• Extensive nationwide travel (up to 75%) by air and car
• Combination of commercial kitchen work, client sites, and remote office environment
• Physical requirements include standing, walking, lifting (up to 25 lbs), and working in hot, humid, or cold kitchen conditions
• Flexible schedule with extended or irregular hours typical of hospitality leadership

Reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.

We Offer

• Competitive pay and performance incentives
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with a company match of up to $1500 for qualifying plans
• Free mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match
• Tuition reimbursement and discounts

Why Join Creative Dining Services?

At Creative Dining, we're passionate about people, partnerships, and performance. You'll join a purpose-driven team that values innovation, integrity, and impact. This is your opportunity to shape the future of hospitality partnerships while growing your career in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

Creative Dining Services operates over 80 locations in 16 states, serving colleges, universities, Fortune 100 companies, full-service senior living communities, conference centers, hotels, camps, and independent K-12 schools to provide a different kind of hospitality and facility management services experience one that's fun, innovative, and focused on community. Why? Because that's how it should be.

Our Core Values are:

• Integrity
• Flexibility
• Family
• Creativity
• Sensitivity
• Sustainability
• Diversity

Our team members are like family to us and to our clients. We get to know people by name and personal preferences to provide a welcoming home away from home for our guests and for each other.

Creative Dining Services is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and employees 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.

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