EXECUTIVE CHEF - KIPP Texas Public Schools, Houston, TX

Executive Chef

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent.

We are seeking an inspirational, kid-focused Executive Chef to lead culinary operations across our growing K-12 food service programs for KIPP Texas Public Schools located in Houston, TX market. In this role, you'll drive high-quality, nutritious meals that appeal to diverse student populations while maintaining strong standards in food safety, consistency, and execution. Reporting to a Director of Dining Services, you'll provide hands-on leadership, mentoring frontline teams and bringing creativity, energy, and a strong sense of ownership to the program.

This opportunity is ideal for a self-starter who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and enjoys working with students and developing strong teams. You'll help elevate the dining experience through innovation, support key initiatives like Discovery Kitchen and annual cookoffs, and manage food cost and inventory with a focus on excellence. Best of all, this role offers outstanding work-life balance with a MondayFriday, 7 AM4 PM schedule, giving you the chance to lead and growwhile still enjoying life outside the kitchen.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plans regular and modified menus according to established guidelines
• Follows standardized recipes, portioning and presentation standards. Completes and utilizes daily production worksheets and waste log sheets. Tastes completed meals to ensure quality
• Trains kitchen staff in food preparation, safe handling, operation of equipment, food safety and sanitation based on Company and regulatory standards
• Establishes and maintains cleaning and maintenance schedules for equipment, storage and work areas. Ensures that kitchen staff follows and completes schedules as assigned
• Maintains inventory of food and non-food supplies to stay within established guidelines while assuring that necessary product is available when needed
• Makes all decisions regarding utilization of leftover food products staying within Company guidelines for such products
• Complies with federal, state and local health and sanitation regulations and department sanitation procedures as evidenced through local health department and third-party audits
• Follows facility, department, and Company safety policies and procedures to include occurrence reporting
• Participates and attends departmental meetings, staff development, and professional programs, as appropriate

Preferred Qualifications:

• A.S. or equivalent experience preferred
• Minimum of three plus years of progressive culinary/kitchen management experience, depending upon formal degree or training
• Catering experience a plus
• High volume, complex foodservice operations experience - highly desirable
• Institutional and batch cooking experiences
• Hands-on chef experience a must!
• Comprehensive knowledge of food trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation
• Must be experienced with computers; to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point), Outlook, E-mail and the Internet
• ServSafe certified - highly desirable

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Associates at Chartwells K12 are offered many fantastic benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, holiday time off, associate shopping program, health and wellness programs, discount marketplace, identity theft protection, pet insurance, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, paid parental leave, and personal leave.