Senior Area Executive Chef

Senior Area Executive Chef

Sodexo Campus Services is seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Area Executive Chef to support accounts within our segment, primarily across the Mid-Atlantic region, and will support other accounts across the U.S. as needed.

As the Area Executive Chef, you will oversee culinary operations across multiple university campuses, driving innovation, consistency, and excellence in resident dining, retail, and catering. You will work with both the salaried management team and hourly staff on Sodexo's culinary foundations program and have a visible presence on the accounts you visit. Under your leadership, you will elevate the dining experience across campus by implementing current trends, supporting menu development, leading culinary training, and ensuring adherence to Sodexo's culinary and safety standards. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong culinary expertise, high-volume experience, and a commitment to operational excellence and financial success.

Travel Requirement:

This position involves regular regional travel, approximately 75%, to multiple sites and locations primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region, with additional travel across the U.S. as needed. The ideal candidate will reside in the Mid-Atlantic area. Candidates should be prepared to spend time on the road visiting various facilities to ensure consistent support and collaboration across the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations across approximately 30 higher education campuses, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic market.
• Partner with District and Unit Executive Chefs to drive operational excellence and performance
• Ensure compliance with Sodexo culinary standards, recipe execution, and branded concepts
• Standardize food quality, presentation, and resident meal experience
• Support menu development, recipe rollouts, and culinary innovation initiatives
• Monitor food cost performance, production forecasting, and inventory practices
• Ensure strict compliance with HACCP, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards
• Collaborate with Client and Sodexo leadership to align culinary operations with client goals
• Utilize food management systems to monitor performance and drive efficiencies
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement best practices
• Support hiring, onboarding, and development of culinary talent across the enterprise.

Benefits

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Level Executive Chef or culinary leader, preferably within a Campus environment
• Multi-site or system-level culinary oversight experience preferred
• Strong understanding of residential, retail, and catering dining standards
• Demonstrated expertise in HACCP, regulatory compliance, and food safety standards
• Experience managing food cost controls, production systems, and inventory oversight
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to analyze performance data and implement strategic improvements
• Passion for delivering consistent, high-quality resident dining experiences

About Us

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you're happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experienceMinimum Management Experience - 5 yearsMinimum Functional Experience - 3 years