Catering Executive Chef

Catering Executive Chef

We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Executive Chef to lead culinary operations supporting a diverse portfolio of catering programs, business dining services, and large-scale off-site events. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on culinary expertise, ensuring exceptional food quality, operational excellence, and memorable guest experiences. The Executive Chef will oversee menu development, production planning, culinary team leadership, food safety, financial stewardship, and execution across a variety of hospitality environments. The ideal candidate brings a passion for innovation, a commitment to developing people, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced event-driven operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations across catering, special events, and business dining programs.
• Develop and execute creative, seasonal menus that reflect client preferences and event objectives.
• Guide food production and event execution while maintaining consistency, quality, and presentation standards.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing kitchen culture focused on teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop culinary team members at various experience levels.
• Partner with operational and hospitality leaders to support client satisfaction and business growth.
• Monitor food, labor, and operating costs while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, health, and workplace safety standards.
• Manage purchasing, inventory controls, vendor relationships, and product specifications.
• Support large-scale events, including planning, logistics, staffing, and onsite culinary execution.
• Contribute to new business presentations, tastings, and client engagement opportunities.
• Drive innovation through menu development, culinary trends, and guest feedback.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading culinary operations in catering, hospitality, business dining, hotel, restaurant, or event environments.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee high-volume food production and complex event execution.
• Strong leadership skills with a focus on coaching, mentorship, and team development.
• Knowledge of menu planning, food costing, inventory management, and labor management.
• Understanding of food safety regulations and best practices.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and service excellence.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Culinary degree, certification, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Experience supporting large-scale events, premium hospitality, or multi-site operations.
• Experience working directly with clients and managing customized event experiences.
• Familiarity with budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance metrics.
• Passion for culinary innovation, sustainability, and guest-centered hospitality.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates 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.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Compass Corporate maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates at Corporate are offered many fantastic benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, paid parental leave, holiday time off, personal leave, associate shopping program, health and wellness programs, discount marketplace, identity theft protection, pet insurance, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts.