Catering Chef

Catering Chef

Restaurant Associates is seeking an experienced and passionate Catering Chef to lead culinary catering operations for a premier dining and catering account in Philadelphia. In this role, you will oversee all aspects of food production, menu development, catering execution, purchasing, inventory management, and team leadership. This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary professional who enjoys creating memorable dining experiences, developing high-performing teams, and driving operational excellence in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all catering culinary operations, ensuring exceptional food quality and presentation.
• Create, develop, and execute seasonal menus, catering offerings, and specialty events.
• Supervise and actively participate in food preparation and production activities.
• Partner with operations and marketing teams to implement new culinary programs and initiatives.
• Manage food, labor, and operational costs while maintaining quality standards.
• Oversee purchasing, receiving, inventory control, and product utilization.
• Promote the use of local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and ServSafe standards.
• Maintain a safe and inclusive work environment for all team members.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop culinary team members, supporting career growth and engagement.
• Monitor equipment, kitchen maintenance, and operational readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement through process enhancements and best practices.
• Support special projects and additional responsibilities as needed.

What We're Looking For

• Culinary degree required; Associate degree preferred.
• Experience leading culinary operations in a high-volume foodservice, hospitality, or catering environment.
• Strong knowledge of food production, menu planning, sanitation, and food safety practices.
• Experience with inventory management, purchasing, and cost control.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Three to five years of culinary management experience.
• High-volume catering and event experience.
• Knowledge of food and industry trends.
• Experience managing budgets and achieving financial goals.
• Passion for hospitality, innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Desire to grow professionally within an industry-leading foodservice organization.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Associates at Restaurant Associates 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, personal leave.