Chef Manager

Vanderbilt University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University Campus Dining is seeking a Chef De Cuisine to lead day-to-day culinary operations in an assigned dining hall. This role provides hands-on leadership to deliver high-quality dining experiences, manage budgets, and maintain food safety and service standards.

The Chef De Cuisine reports to the General Manager and collaborates with staff, students, faculty, and partners to continually improve meals, nutrition, and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate degree in Culinary Arts preferred.
• 5 years of culinary management experience in hospitality or restaurant settings.
• Strong business judgment with financial and personnel management skills.
• Experience with menu management systems is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• ServSafe Manager certification within 30 days of hire.
• AllerTrain U certification within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Promote the vision and core values of Vanderbilt Campus Dining.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and agreements.
• Assist in forecasting and monitoring annual operating budget for financial sustainability.
• Develop positive professional relationships with staff, guests, and partners.
• Provide hands-on culinary leadership for high-quality dining experiences.
• Design seasonal and periodized menus with emphasis on quality and nutrition.
• Oversee kitchen activities including food prep, presentation, and sanitation.
• Supervise staff, manage schedules, and enforce union contract compliance.
• Forecast annual kitchen budget and analyze P&L to drive improvements.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Financial management

Communication skills

Time management

Customer service

Staff coaching

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Chef De Cuisine for Vanderbilt Campus Dining is responsible for supporting the leadership and oversight of the day-to-day culinary operations in an assigned dining hall. The Chef De Cuisine will provide hands‑on culinary leadership to facilitate a quality dining program with dining experiences that meet or exceed guest expectations and will support leadership in managing of the unit's annual budget. This leader will create and influence an operation built on integrity, respect, and excellence while maintaining relationships with employees, guests, support partners and other departments within the operation and university community. The Chef De Cuisine position reports to the General Manager and has interactions with staff, students, faculty, and external entities on a regular basis.

Duties And Responsibilities

Leadership

• Promote the vision and core values of Vanderbilt Campus Dining.
• Ensure compliance with Vanderbilt Campus Dining policies, procedures, collective bargaining unit agreements and employment programs.
• Support financial management of the unit including assisting in forecasting and monitoring the annual operational budget while encouraging creative approaches to improve financial sustainability.
• Develop and maintain positive, professional relationships employees, guests, support partners and other departments within the operation and university community.
• Manage organizational changes and own messages being delivered to the team and serving as a link between managers and leadership to communicate concerns and ideas.
• Reinforce individual and team accountability for assigned tasks, monitor staff performance, coach employees and managers to effect changes in behavior, and implement appropriate action plans with deliverables when needed.
• Provide open honest feedback to hourly team members and are completing performance evaluations for team members.
• Assist with the development and implementation of new policies, procedures, and trainings.

Operational Management

• Develop recipes, source, create and execute high-performance menus for customers, with an emphasis on local, nutrient-dense, high-quality foods to optimize taste, nutrition, and menu diversity.
• Oversee kitchen activities, including food preparation, food presentation, food portioning, kitchen organization, and sanitation.
• Ensure performance expectations and work rules are clearly communicated and followed.
• Supervise staff with responsibilities for planning, coordinating, and controlling work schedules, and following departmental procedures and policies.
• Executes on the vision of Campus Dining and University leadership by continuously evolving and improving food quality, presentation, and service to drive guest satisfaction.
• Work closely with the Director of Culinary Operations, unit General Manager and dining Registered Dietitian to produce delicious, creative, and appealing meals and snacks that meet the nutritional demands of the customers.
• Designs seasonal and periodized menus that increase variety and drive excitement and overall engagement.
• Effectively utilize the menu management system to provide menu and nutritional information to customers.
• Fosters an atmosphere and dining experience that increases meal attendance and satisfaction.
• Coordinate, engage, and guide culinary staff regarding menu execution, ingredient utilization, equipment operation, kitchen flow, time management, food safety, and sanitation.
• Supervise hourly union staff and know, understand, and ensure compliance with Collective Bargaining Contract. This includes direct supervision and documentation of all disciplinary processes.
• Forecast annual kitchen budget and analyze P&L spreadsheets to track progress and proactively implement solutions to any problem areas.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has direct supervisory responsibility over hourly food service employees; this position reports administratively and functionally to the General Manager (or other position, depending on location)

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED is necessary.
• An associate degree from an accredited higher education institution with specialized training in Culinary Arts is preferred.
• 5 years of related culinary management and experience in developing a quality food program in a restaurant or hospitality environment is necessary.
• Strong record of business judgement including financial, and personnel management is necessary.
• Operational experience with a variety of food service applications and computerized menu management systems is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel) is necessary.
• Strong communication (verbal, written, interpersonal) skills and an ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population is necessary.
• Strong time management, organizational and multi-tasking skills and an eye for detail is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional customer service is necessary.
• Ability to manage people and have accountability for Vanderbilt assets is necessary.
• ServSafe Manager certification within 30 days of hire is necessary.
• AllerTrain U certification within 30 days of hire is necessary.