Executive Chef Biola University
Salary: 110,000-115,000
Other Forms of Compensation:
Our Passion is Food!
At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!
Job Summary
The Executive Chef is responsible for leading all culinary operations for a premier higher education dining program serving approximately 2,500 residential students within a vibrant, mission-driven university community. Reporting to the Culinary Director, this role oversees a $10 million dining operation that includes a main residential dining facility, three retail dining locations, and a robust catering program generating approximately $700,000 annually.
This hands-on leader drives culinary excellence across multiple service platforms while fostering a culture of hospitality, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. The Executive Chef is responsible for menu development, financial performance, team leadership, operational execution, client partnership, and creating exceptional dining experiences that support the university's unique culture and values. Success in this role requires an accomplished culinary professional who can balance strategic leadership with daily operational involvement while developing teams and continuously enhancing the guest experience.
Responsibilities
- Lead all culinary operations across a large-scale residential dining program, retail dining venues, and catering services, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction.
- Direct and develop a diverse culinary workforce consisting of salaried managers, full-time team members, and student employees, creating clear expectations and opportunities for professional growth.
- Provide leadership and oversight for a dining operation serving approximately 2,500 meal plan participants through breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-day service, retail concepts, and campus events.
- Partner with the Culinary Director to develop innovative seasonal menus, retail offerings, special event menus, and catering programs that reflect culinary trends, student preferences, and operational goals.
- Oversee all aspects of food production, recipe standardization, menu execution, presentation standards, and culinary consistency across multiple service venues.
- Manage a catering program generating approximately $700,000 annually, including campus functions, donor events, student activities, conferences, and special university events.
- Maintain strong client relationships and collaborate closely with university leadership, campus stakeholders, and event partners to ensure successful execution of dining services and catering events.
- Drive financial performance through effective management of food costs, labor utilization, inventory controls, purchasing strategies, forecasting, and budget accountability.
- Lead all aspects of kitchen operations including staffing, scheduling, training, performance management, succession planning, and employee engagement.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, allergen awareness, workplace safety, and regulatory standards while maintaining audit-ready operations.
- Monitor operational performance and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and the overall guest experience.
- Serve as a visible leader within the operation, maintaining an active presence in kitchens and service areas while supporting teams during peak periods and special events.
- Foster a culture of respect, inclusivity, hospitality, and service that aligns with the university's mission and values.
Qualifications
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and progressive culinary leadership experience considered.
- Five or more years of Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or senior culinary leadership experience within higher education, corporate dining, hospitality, resorts, hotels, large-scale catering, or other high-volume foodservice environments.
- Demonstrated success managing complex dining operations with multiple service outlets and diverse customer populations.
- Experience leading large teams, including managers, hourly employees, and student or seasonal workforces.
- Strong financial acumen with proven experience managing budgets, food costs, purchasing programs, inventory controls, labor management, and P&L responsibilities.
- Experience overseeing residential dining, retail foodservice operations, and high-volume catering programs.
- Proven ability to build productive client relationships and successfully support a variety of stakeholders within a mission-driven environment.
- Strong culinary foundation with experience in menu development, production planning, recipe development, and culinary innovation.
- Comprehensive knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP principles, sanitation standards, and risk management practices.
- Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and foodservice management systems.
- ServSafe Manager Certification preferred.
- Ability to maintain a primarily Monday-Friday schedule while supporting occasional evenings, weekends, and special events as business needs require.
Apply to Bon Appetit today!
Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.
Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story
Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance/ AD
- Disability Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
- Associate Shopping Program
- Health and Wellness Programs
- Discount Marketplace
- Identity Theft Protection
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Personal Leave
Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.
https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf
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.
Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.
Req ID: 1589447
Bon Appetit
BRYAN GONI
Job Segment:
Event Planning, Executive Chef, Food Service, Chef, Culinary, Hospitality
