Catering Chef

Restaurant Associates

Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)

On-site

USD 100,000 - 110,000

Full time

14 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

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

Job summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking a Catering Chef in Philadelphia to lead culinary catering operations for premier accounts. You will oversee food production, menu development, purchasing, inventory, and team leadership to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

The role requires a culinary degree and 3–5 years of management in a fast-paced catering or hospitality setting, with a focus on quality, cost control, and program innovation.

Qualifications

Culinary degree required; Associate degree preferred.
Experience leading culinary operations in a high-volume foodservice, hospitality, or catering environment.
Strong knowledge of food production, menu planning, sanitation, and food safety practices.
Experience with inventory management, purchasing, and cost control.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse teams.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Three to five years of culinary management experience.
High-volume catering and event experience.
Knowledge of food and industry trends.
Experience managing budgets and achieving financial goals.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee all catering culinary operations, ensuring exceptional food quality and presentation.
Create, develop, and execute seasonal menus, catering offerings, and specialty events.
Supervise and actively participate in food preparation and production activities.
Partner with operations and marketing teams to implement new culinary programs and initiatives.
Manage food, labor, and operational costs while maintaining quality standards.
Oversee purchasing, receiving, inventory control, and product utilization.
Promote the use of local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible.
Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and ServSafe standards.
Maintain a safe and inclusive work environment for all team members.
Recruit, train, coach, and develop culinary team members, supporting career growth and engagement.
Monitor equipment, kitchen maintenance, and operational readiness.
Drive continuous improvement through process enhancements and best practices.
Support special projects and additional responsibilities as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

Cost control

Budgeting

Communication

Problem solving

Team development

Education

Culinary degree

Associate degree

Job description

Salary: $100,000 - $110,000

Restaurant Associates

Position Title: Catering Chef

Salary: $100,000 - $110,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Annual Performance Bonus Opportunity (Up to 20% of Base Salary)

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations!

Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards - Best Places to Work. This is R/A!

Job Summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking an experienced and passionate Catering Chef to lead culinary catering culinary operations for a premier dining and catering account in Philadelphia. In this role, you will oversee all aspects of food production, menu development, catering execution, purchasing, inventory management, and team leadership.

This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary professional who enjoys creating memorable dining experiences, developing high-performing teams, and driving operational excellence in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and oversee all catering culinary operations, ensuring exceptional food quality and presentation.
Create, develop, and execute seasonal menus, catering offerings, and specialty events.
Supervise and actively participate in food preparation and production activities.
Partner with operations and marketing teams to implement new culinary programs and initiatives.
Manage food, labor, and operational costs while maintaining quality standards.
Oversee purchasing, receiving, inventory control, and product utilization.
Promote the use of local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible.
Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and ServSafe standards.
Maintain a safe and inclusive work environment for all team members.
Recruit, train, coach, and develop culinary team members, supporting career growth and engagement.
Monitor equipment, kitchen maintenance, and operational readiness.
Drive continuous improvement through process enhancements and best practices.
Support special projects and additional responsibilities as needed.

What We're Looking For

Culinary degree required; Associate degree preferred.
Experience leading culinary operations in a high-volume foodservice, hospitality, or catering environment.
Strong knowledge of food production, menu planning, sanitation, and food safety practices.
Experience with inventory management, purchasing, and cost control.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse teams.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Three to five years of culinary management experience.
High-volume catering and event experience.
Knowledge of food and industry trends.
Experience managing budgets and achieving financial goals.
Passion for hospitality, innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
Desire to grow professionally within an industry-leading foodservice organization.

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 Restaurant Associates Are Offered Many Fantastic Benefits