Catering Chef

Compass Group USA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/AD&D

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

Bon Appetit Management Company is seeking a Catering Chef in Palo Alto to lead culinary operations for catering, events, and executive programs within a fast-paced corporate dining environment. The role reports to the Culinary Director and combines menu development, event production, and team development to uphold Bon Appétit standards.

You will manage food safety, purchasing, inventory, and cost controls while delivering creative catering experiences for VIP functions and large-scale events.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• Three to five years of progressive culinary-management experience.
• Significant catering, events, banquet, or hospitality leadership experience.
• High-volume catering and complex event-production experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of menu development, production planning, BEOs or event specifications, purchasing, inventory, food cost, and labor management.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, allergen management, culinary trends, quality, and presentation.
• Corporate dining, hotel, conference center, convention, or large-scale catering experience preferred.
• Strong computer and administrative skills using Microsoft Office, Outlook, email, and applicable catering or event‑management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary aspects of catering, VIP events, executive functions, conferences, activations, and large-scale events.
• Maintain hands-on leadership, ensuring high standards for food quality, flavor, presentation, timing, and hospitality from kitchen to event site.
• Coach and develop catering culinary staff with clear expectations and training.
• Develop catering menus and experiences balancing creativity, guest expectations, labor, equipment, production capability, and budgets.
• Review event details, menus, BEOs, production schedules, staffing, equipment, and prep requirements for readiness.
• Manage multiple events and priorities, resolving production, staffing, and logistics challenges.
• Oversee food cost, purchasing, inventory, waste, and expenditures following Bon Appétit standards.
• Maintain food safety, allergen, sanitation, and audit-readiness across production and service.
• Maintain professional, hospitality-focused client-facing presence with executives and planners.

Skills

Culinary management

High‑volume catering

Menu development

BEOs / event specs

Food cost & purchasing

Food safety & sanitation

Labor management

Microsoft Office

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

Position Title:Catering Chef-Palo Alto

Pay Grade:14

Salary: 85000 - 95000 per year

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 Catering Chef leads culinary operations for catering, special events, VIP functions, executive-level programs, and other catered experiences within Palo Alto Networks' high-volume, fast-paced corporate dining environment and reports to the Culinary Director.

This is a hands-on culinary leadership role responsible for catering execution, culinary quality, menu development, event production and logistics, team development, food safety and sanitation, purchasing, inventory, cost control, and consistent execution of Bon Appétit standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary aspects of catering, VIP events, executive functions, conferences, activations, and large-scale special events.
• Maintain a hands‑on leadership presence and ensure high standards for food quality, flavor, presentation, timing, consistency, and hospitality from the kitchen through the event site.
• Lead, coach, and develop catering culinary employees through clear expectations, training, feedback, accountability, and opportunities for growth.
• Develop catering menus and culinary experiences that balance creativity, guest expectations, labor, equipment, production capability, transportation, budget, and event logistics.
• Review event details, menus, BEOs or event specifications, production schedules, staffing, equipment, and prep requirements to ensure operational readiness.
• Manage multiple events and priorities while proactively resolving production, staffing, equipment, transportation, ingredient, or service challenges.
• Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, waste, event expenditures, and product utilization while following approved Bon Appétit purchasing and sustainability standards.
• Maintain and reinforce food‑safety, sanitation, allergen, workplace-safety, and audit-readiness standards throughout production, transportation, setup, and event service.
• Maintain a professional, responsive, and hospitality-focused presence when working with clients, executives, VIP guests, event planners, and internal stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• Three to five years of progressive culinary‑management experience.
• Significant catering, events, banquet, or hospitality leadership experience.
• High‑volume catering and complex event‑production experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of menu development, production planning, BEOs or event specifications, purchasing, inventory, food cost, and labor management.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, allergen management, culinary trends, quality, and presentation.
• Corporate dining, hotel, conference center, convention, or large-scale catering experience preferred.
• Strong computer and administrative skills using Microsoft Office, Outlook, email, and applicable catering or event‑management systems.

Operational Expectations

• Must be comfortable working in an active, high‑volume catering and event environment with changing priorities and multiple simultaneous functions.
• Must be prepared to work the hours necessary to successfully lead the operation and meet Bon Appétit management standards, business demands, and leadership responsibilities.
• Schedule flexibility may be required based on event schedules, early‑morning or evening functions, staffing, business volume, and operational needs.
• Must be comfortable supporting events throughout a large, multi‑kitchen campus environment.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

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)
• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis
• 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, 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.