SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHEF - Binghamton University - Binghamton, NY

Job Summary

Binghamton University Dining Services | Chartwells Higher Education

Are you a visionary culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment? Do you combine exceptional culinary talent with business acumen, strategic planning, and the ability to inspire teams? If so, we invite you to bring your expertise to Binghamton University as our next Senior Campus Executive Chef. This is more than a culinary leadership role. It is an opportunity to shape the dining experience for thousands of students, faculty, staff, and guests while driving innovation, operational excellence, and financial performance across one of Chartwells Higher Education's premier university dining programs.

Culinary Leadership & Innovation

• Provide strategic culinary vision and oversight for all dining, retail, and catering operations.
• Develop innovative menus that reflect industry trends, student preferences, wellness initiatives, and regional flavors.
• Champion culinary excellence through elevated presentation, quality standards, and consistency across all locations.
• Lead efforts around food seasonality, sustainability, local sourcing, and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage culinary operations with a strong focus on financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Analyze food costs, labor utilization, purchasing practices, and inventory controls to maximize profitability and reduce waste.
• Build and execute strategic plans that support business growth, client satisfaction, and operational goals.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and achieve budgetary targets.

Client & Campus Partnership

• Build strong relationships with university stakeholders, student groups, and campus leadership.
• Serve as a trusted culinary advisor and ambassador for the dining program.
• Partner with leadership teams to develop innovative dining solutions that enhance the campus experience.
• Respond proactively to client feedback and continuously improve service and culinary offerings.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop a high-performing culinary leadership team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, safety, and continuous learning.
• Provide inspirational leadership that promotes creativity, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Ensure teams maintain the highest standards in food safety, sanitation, and operational excellence.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee purchasing, inventory management, production planning, and food safety compliance.
• Ensure adherence to all HACCP, sanitation, and health department standards.
• Lead culinary execution for high-profile campus events, conferences, and catering functions.
• Monitor operational trends and implement best practices that enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Proven success leading large-scale culinary operations in higher education, hospitality, healthcare, sports & entertainment, or contract foodservice environments.
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated experience managing food cost, labor budgets, inventory, and purchasing programs.
• Strategic planning experience with the ability to align culinary operations with business objectives.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of developing and retaining high-performing teams.
• Strong client relationship management and communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and build partnerships across diverse groups.