Executive Chef
Position Title: Executive Chef
Salary: $120,000 - $125,000
Other Forms of Compensation: Annual Performance Bonus Opportunity (Up to 20% of Base Salary)
Where Passion Meets Purpose - and Careers Come Alive
At Wolfgang Puck Catering, great careers are crafted the same way great food is — with passion, intention, and the right people around you. We hire for curiosity, spirit, and heart, and we invest in everything you bring to the table. Through mentorship, real development, and a clear path to leadership, we're committed to your journey — not just your job title. Come be part of something that challenges and champions you in equal measure.
"I can have the best food, but if we don't have good people, it won't get you very far." — Wolfgang Puck
Success on our team starts with our culture:
- We have Wolfgang’s PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
- A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.
- Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
- We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don’t have to.
- We curate company and partner resources to bring our client’s vision to life. We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
- We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).
- Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.
“I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far.”
Job Summary
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all culinary operations for the account, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and guest experience.
- Develop innovative menus that reflect seasonal ingredients, client preferences, wellness initiatives, and current culinary trends.
- Oversee food production for daily dining services as well as special events, receptions, and catering functions.
- Partner with operations leadership to achieve financial objectives, including budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, and food cost controls.
- Create a culture focused on collaboration, engagement, inclusion, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, train, coach, and develop culinary team members while supporting career growth and succession planning.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, health department, and company standards.
- Build strong client relationships through responsiveness, creativity, and a commitment to exceptional service.
- Collaborate with culinary, marketing, and operational partners to introduce new programs, concepts, and guest experiences.
- Monitor operational performance and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency and quality.
- Support sustainability initiatives, waste reduction efforts, and responsible sourcing practices where applicable.
- Lead culinary execution for VIP events, client functions, and high-profile catering opportunities.
What We're Looking For
- Culinary leadership experience within corporate dining, hospitality, restaurants, catering, hotels, or related foodservice environments.
- Experience overseeing food production in high-volume and quality-driven operations.
- Knowledge of menu development, culinary trends, food safety standards, labor management, and financial performance metrics.
- Ability to inspire, coach, and develop diverse teams in a collaborative environment.
- Strong relationship-building skills with clients, guests, and cross-functional partners.
- Experience balancing hands-on culinary execution with strategic operational leadership.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and changing business needs.
- Commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences and creating a positive workplace culture.
- Comfort using technology and business applications, including Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and operational reporting tools.
- Degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience leading corporate dining, catering, conference center, or premium hospitality operations.
- ServSafe Certification or similar food safety certification.
- Experience managing budgets, purchasing programs, and food cost initiatives.
- Knowledge of current culinary, nutrition, sustainability, and foodservice industry trends.
- Experience collaborating directly with clients and executive stakeholders.
Apply to Wolfgang Puck Catering today!
Wolfgang Puck Catering is a member of Compass Group USA
Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story
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/
Associates at Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic benefits.
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance/ AD
- Disability Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
- Personal Leave
- Associate Shopping Program
- Health and Wellness Programs
- Discount Marketplace
- Identity Theft Protection
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Wolfgang Puck Catering maintains a drugfree workplace.
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_WPC.pdf
Req ID: 1580609
Wolfgang Puck Catering
Michael Abbey
[[req_classification]]
Nearest Major Market: San Jose
Nearest Secondary Market: Palo Alto
Job Segment:
Executive Chef, Event Planning, Chef, Culinary, Food Service, Hospitality
