Catering Chef — Lead High-Volume Event Dining

Restaurant Associates Corp.; Philadelphia, Northern (Philadelphia County, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

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 an experienced Catering Chef to lead culinary catering operations for a premier account in Philadelphia. You will oversee all aspects of food production, menu development, purchasing, inventory, and team leadership.

This role requires a culinary degree (associate preferred) and 3–5 years of culinary management experience, with a focus on high-volume catering, cost control, and food safety. Join a team dedicated to hospitality excellence and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree required; Associate degree preferred.
• Three to five years of culinary management experience.
• 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.

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

Culinary ops

Catering leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

Inventory mgmt

Cost control

Team leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Industry trends

Education

Culinary degree

Associate degree

Job description

Restaurant Associates is seeking an experienced Catering Chef to lead culinary catering operations for a premier account in Philadelphia. You will oversee all aspects of food production, menu development, purchasing, inventory, and team leadership.

This role requires a culinary degree (associate preferred) and 3–5 years of culinary management experience, with a focus on high-volume catering, cost control, and food safety. Join a team dedicated to hospitality excellence and guest satisfaction.