Catering Chef Eckerd College

Compass Group USA; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefit Package

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appétit Management Company, in partnership with Eckerd College, seeks a Catering Chef to lead culinary execution for campus events, from intimate receptions to large-scale celebrations, ensuring exceptional taste and presentation.

You will work closely with catering managers and culinary teams to design creative menus, maintain fresh ingredients and high standards, and mentor staff in catering production, event execution, safety, and guest experience.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree, certificate, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Experience preparing food in catering, hospitality, higher education, restaurant, hotel, resort, or event-focused environments.
• Knowledge of banquet production, event execution, and large-scale food preparation.
• Strong culinary fundamentals with a focus on flavor, presentation, and guest experience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while balancing multiple priorities and event timelines.
• Experience with menu development, food production planning, and inventory management.
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Familiarity with current culinary trends, dietary accommodations, and guest preferences.
• Collaborative communication skills and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Comfort using basic computer applications, email, and web-based systems.
• ServSafe Certification or willingness to obtain certification is preferred.
• Flexibility to support evening, weekend, and special-event schedules as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary execution of catered events across campus, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and service.
• Collaborate with catering and dining leadership to develop innovative menus that align with client needs, seasonal offerings, and Bon Appétit's culinary philosophy.
• Prepare, cook, and present menu items for catered functions ranging from small gatherings to large-scale events.
• Support menu tastings, special events, and customized client requests.
• Ensure recipes, portioning, and presentation standards are consistently followed.
• Coordinate production schedules and event preparation to ensure timely execution.
• Monitor food quality throughout preparation, transportation, service, and post-event activities.
• Partner with the catering team to forecast production needs and manage event-specific inventory.
• Assist with purchasing and receiving food products while supporting food cost and waste management goals.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Guide, train, and support culinary team members in catering production, event execution, and food handling practices.
• Assist with setup, execution, and breakdown of catered events as needed.
• Support continuous improvement efforts to enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training programs, and professional development opportunities.

Skills

Culinary degree

Menu development

Food production planning

Inventory management

Guest experience

Collaboration

Evening/weekend flexibility

Safety standards

Education

Culinary degree or certificate

Job description

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Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefit Package

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

At Bon Appétit, catering is more than delivering meals. It is about creating memorable experiences that bring people together. As Catering Chef at Eckerd College, you will play a vital role in executing a wide range of campus events, from intimate receptions and executive meetings to large-scale celebrations and signature college functions.

This position is ideal for a culinary professional who enjoys variety, collaboration, and hands‑on leadership. Working closely with catering managers and culinary teams, you will help bring creative menus to life while maintaining Bon Appétit's commitment to fresh ingredients, exceptional quality, operational excellence, and outstanding guest experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary execution of catered events across campus, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and service.
• Collaborate with catering and dining leadership to develop innovative menus that align with client needs, seasonal offerings, and Bon Appétit's culinary philosophy.
• Prepare, cook, and present menu items for catered functions ranging from small gatherings to large-scale events.
• Support menu tastings, special events, and customized client requests.
• Ensure recipes, portioning, and presentation standards are consistently followed.
• Coordinate production schedules and event preparation to ensure timely execution.
• Monitor food quality throughout preparation, transportation, service, and post-event activities.
• Partner with the catering team to forecast production needs and manage event-specific inventory.
• Assist with purchasing and receiving food products while supporting food cost and waste management goals.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Guide, train, and support culinary team members in catering production, event execution, and food handling practices.
• Assist with setup, execution, and breakdown of catered events as needed.
• Support continuous improvement efforts to enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training programs, and professional development opportunities.

What We're Looking For

• Culinary degree, certificate, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Experience preparing food in catering, hospitality, higher education, restaurant, hotel, resort, or event-focused environments.
• Knowledge of banquet production, event execution, and large-scale food preparation.
• Strong culinary fundamentals with a focus on flavor, presentation, and guest experience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment while balancing multiple priorities and event timelines.
• Experience with menu development, food production planning, and inventory management.
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Familiarity with current culinary trends, dietary accommodations, and guest preferences.
• Collaborative communication skills and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Comfort using basic computer applications, email, and web‑based systems.
• ServSafe Certification or willingness to obtain certification is preferred.
• Flexibility to support evening, weekend, and special‑event schedules as business needs require.

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,

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.