Catering Chef: VIP & Corporate Event Leader

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

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.