Airline Catering Head Chef - Second-in-Command

JCSI; Washington; On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

JCSI is seeking an experienced Head Chef to act as the second-in-command to the Executive Chef at a high-volume airline catering facility in Seattle. You will oversee daily kitchen production, ensure meals meet customer specifications, and lead hot and cold kitchen operations.

This role requires at least 5 years in commercial cooking in high-volume settings, a culinary degree or apprenticeship, strong HACCP knowledge, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial cooking in a high-volume kitchen (airline catering, hotels, or banquet operations).
• 3-5 years of leadership supervising kitchen operations and culinary teams.
• Culinary degree or accredited culinary apprenticeship completed.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety, sanitation and quality standards.
• Experience managing food production, inventory, labor and costs.
• Excellent communication, organizational and leadership skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and basic computer applications.
• Customer-focused with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced production environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production across hot and cold kitchen operations.
• Ensure meals are prepared according to recipes, customer specifications, and quality standards.
• Oversee food production planning, inventory management, food quality, and production schedules.
• Monitor food costs, labor costs, and kitchen efficiency while maintaining operational excellence.
• Ensure proper product rotation, storage, sanitation, and food safety procedures are followed.
• Support menu development, recipe execution, and continuous culinary improvement.
• Address customer concerns and implement corrective actions when needed.
• Coach, develop, and mentor kitchen staff while promoting a high-performing culture.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Food safety HACCP

Operations management

Staff training & mentoring

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Culinary degree or apprenticeship

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

JCSI is seeking an experienced Head Chef to act as the second-in-command to the Executive Chef at a high-volume airline catering facility in Seattle. You will oversee daily kitchen production, ensure meals meet customer specifications, and lead hot and cold kitchen operations.

This role requires at least 5 years in commercial cooking in high-volume settings, a culinary degree or apprenticeship, strong HACCP knowledge, and proven leadership.