Chef Manager

Wolfgang Puck Catering; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Job summary

A leading catering service is seeking a Chef Manager to lead culinary execution and oversee operations. You will manage a dedicated team, ensuring high-quality catering for various events while maintaining logistics and food safety standards. The ideal candidate has a culinary degree and 3-5 years of experience in kitchen management and catering. This role operates Monday through Friday, with a focus on creating exceptional dining experiences.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive culinary/kitchen management experience.
• Ability to manage logistics-heavy operations.
• Experience managing small teams.
• Strong focus on execution, guest experience, and food quality.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and digital tools; ServSafe certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary execution for on-site catering.
• Coordinate commissary orders and manage food flow.
• Ensure consistency in food quality and presentation.
• Ensure consistent food quality, presentation, and timing for events of all sizes.
• Manage cost controls, track expenditures, and adhere to budget goals.
• Collaborate with operations and event managers to anticipate needs and adapt quickly.
• Maintain sanitation and food safety standards in compliance with Health Department regulations.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Team management

Logistics management

Catering experience

Food quality consistency

Microsoft Office proficiency

Food safety knowledge

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent experience

3–5 years of progressive culinary/kitchen management experience

ServSafe certification desirable

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

As the Chef Manager, you’ll take the lead in executing events from start to finish, while also overseeing retail and grab-and-go offerings across two small pantry-style kitchens. This role is logistics-heavy, requiring strong organizational skills to juggle commissary orders, coordinate deliveries, and ensure flawless execution for catering, takeaway, and daily retail service. You’ll manage a small, dedicated team and work closely with operations to deliver seamless, high-quality dining experiences on a Monday through Friday schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary execution for on-site catering, including logistics, prep, and service.
• Coordinate commissary orders and manage food flow into pantry-style kitchens.
• Lead and support a small back-of-house team, providing direction, training, and daily oversight.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, and timing for events of all sizes.
• Manage cost controls, track expenditures, and adhere to budget goals.
• Collaborate with operations and event managers to anticipate needs and adapt quickly to changes.
• Maintain sanitation and food safety standards in compliance with Health Department regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of progressive culinary/kitchen management experience, with a strong catering or event background.
• Proven ability to manage logistics-heavy operations and multiple moving parts.
• Experience managing small teams and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Solid understanding of food and catering trends, with a focus on execution and guest experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and general digital literacy.
• ServSafe certification highly desirable.

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Personal Leave
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Additional information

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. This job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements. 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, in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.