Cafe Executive Sous Chef

Compass Group Careers; Stanford (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Life Insurance

Job summary

Bon Appetit Management Company at Stanford Graduate School of Business is seeking a Café Executive Sous Chef to lead a high-volume cafe and catering program. You will oversee daily food production, menu execution, and a team of roughly 20 union culinary staff, ensuring top quality, consistency, and hospitality.

You will collaborate with the Executive Chef on menu development, culinary innovation, and cost controls while driving guest satisfaction in a dynamic campus environment.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts required or equivalent experience.
• Progressive culinary leadership in high-volume environments (corporate dining, higher education, hospitality, catering).
• Experience leading teams, preferably in a union environment, with scratch cooking and diverse cuisines.
• Catering and special event experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day café kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality and service.
• Supervise, coach, and develop approximately 20 hourly union culinary associates.
• Partner with Executive Chef to develop menus, seasonal offerings, and daily features.
• Oversee breakfast and lunch production for high-volume operation; support large catering events.
• Maintain HACCP, food safety, and sanitation standards; manage inventory and cost controls.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

Communication

Team development

Education

Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

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

As the Cafe Executive Sous Chef, you will serve as a key culinary leader for Arbuckle Café and Catering at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Partnering closely with the Executive Chef, you will oversee daily food production, menu execution, team development, and operational excellence for a high-volume café serving approximately 950-1,300 guests daily, while also supporting a robust campus catering program.

This role is responsible for leading café kitchen operations, supervising a team of approximately 20 union employees, ensuring the consistent execution of breakfast and lunch service, and maintaining Bon Appétit's standards for quality, presentation, food safety, and hospitality. The Cafe Executive Sous Chef will play an active role in menu planning and development, culinary innovation, employee training, inventory management, and cost control initiatives.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a hands‑on culinary leader who enjoys high-volume operations, diverse cuisine styles, and the energy of a world‑class academic environment.

About the Account

Arbuckle Café and Catering provides dining and catering services to the Stanford Graduate School of Business community.

• Breakfast and lunch service Monday through Friday
• Dedicated catering operation supporting meetings, conferences, special events, and campus functions seven days per week
• Two culinary production kitchens on-site, including a dedicated catering kitchen
• Diverse, globally inspired menus featuring a wide variety of cuisines and culinary styles

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day café kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and service execution.
• Supervise, coach, and develop approximately 20 hourly union culinary associates.
• Partner with the Executive Chef to develop menus, seasonal offerings, recipes, and daily features that align with guest preferences and current culinary trends.
• Oversee food production for breakfast and lunch service, ensuring efficient execution in a high-volume environment.
• Support catering operations as needed, including large-scale events, conferences, leadership functions, and annual commencement activities.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and HACCP compliance.
• Assist with purchasing, receiving, inventory management, product utilization, and cost controls.
• Monitor labor efficiency and support staffing and scheduling initiatives across the operation.
• Ensure proper training, onboarding, and professional development of culinary team members.
• Collaborate closely with front‑of‑house and catering teams to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences.
• Assist in implementing new culinary programs, recipes, and initiatives developed by Bon Appétit's regional culinary leadership.
• Contribute to financial performance through effective management of food cost, waste reduction, and operational efficiencies.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts, culinary certificate, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Progressive culinary leadership experience in corporate dining, higher education, hospitality, restaurant, or catering environments.
• Experience leading teams in a high-volume foodservice operation.
• Experience working within a union environment preferred.
• Strong background in scratch cooking and a variety of global cuisines.
• Catering and special event experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of food costing, inventory management, and purchasing practices.
• P&L experience is a plus but not required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, sanitation, production systems, and culinary trends.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Paid parking
• Company-provided uniforms
• Company-provided safety shoes
• Growth opportunities within Bon Appétit Management Company
• Exposure to both high-volume café operations and sophisticated catering programs
• Collaborative and innovative culinary culture

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• 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
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• 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.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.