CHEF MANAGER (CATERING & EXECUTIVE DINING) - JOHNSTON, IA

Canteen North America; Johnston (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Job summary

Canteen North America in Johnston, IA is seeking a Chef Manager to lead our Executive Dining and Corporate Catering program. You will craft premium menus, oversee dining and catering operations, and drive guest satisfaction in a high-profile workplace setting.

Bring 5+ years of culinary management, strong cost controls, and a ServSafe certification. You will mentor teams, partner with clients, and ensure top-tier food safety and service standards.

Qualifications

• Seasoned culinary leader with experience in executive dining and corporate catering.
• Excellent knowledge of HACCP and sanitation practices.
• Ability to manage budgets, P&L, and supplier relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of executive dining, café operations, and catering services.
• Create and execute seasonally inspired menus with focus on quality and presentation.
• Design and deliver high-end catering experiences for meetings and client events.
• Oversee inventory, purchasing, and sourcing with efficiency.
• Drive food cost, labor, and purchasing decisions to meet budget.
• Mentor culinary and service teams to maintain best-in-class hospitality.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards across functions.

Skills

5+ years culinary management

Menu development

Food cost control

Client relationships

Leadership and mentoring

HACCP & food safety

Communication

Education

ServSafe Certification

Job description

Perk: ****Schedule: Monday - Friday - Start time, 6am (occasional evenings)

Canteen Perk: ****Schedule: Monday - Friday - Start time, 6am (occasional evenings) Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 / year Other Forms of Compensation: Yearly Bonus Opportunity up to 10% Growth. Opportunity. Excellence. Canteen brings break time to everyone. We combine food, service, and experience backed by industry-leading technology to help companies create a better workplace and connect their employees. Canteen’s solutions include markets, office coffee and snacks, unattended retail, and culinary.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication, collaboration, and passion fuel our growth.

Interested in joining our team? You bring the enthusiasm, customer service, and commitment; we’ll supply the opportunity and innovation. Together, we’ll continue to transform our industry.

Come grow with us. We are Canteen.

Job Summary

We’re seeking a forward-thinking, hospitality-driven Chef Manager to lead our Executive Dining and Corporate Catering Program. This is a unique opportunity for a passionate culinary leader to create exceptional dining experiences for executives, clients, and employees while driving operational excellence in a premier workplace environment.

What You’ll Do

• Lead all aspects of executive dining, café operations, and catering services, delivering a seamless and elevated guest experience.
• Create and execute seasonally inspired, chef-driven menus with a focus on quality, presentation, and innovation.
• Design and deliver high-end catering experiences for executive meetings, board functions, client events, and special occasions.
• Partner with clients and stakeholders to customize menus and ensure exceptional event execution.
• Oversee inventory, ordering, receiving, and product sourcing with precision and efficiency.
• Drive financial performance by managing food costs, labor, purchasing, and budget accountability.
• Champion sustainability and responsible sourcing, emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and HACCP standards.
• Inspire, mentor, and develop culinary and service team members to consistently deliver best-in-class hospitality.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer satisfaction across all dining and catering functions.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of culinary management experience in executive dining, corporate catering, contract dining, fine dining, hotel, or high-volume upscale environments.
• Proven experience planning and executing premium catering events and executive-level dining programs.
• Strong culinary creativity with the ability to develop innovative menus and memorable guest experiences.
• Demonstrated success managing food costs, inventory, labor, and operational performance.
• Experience leading and developing culinary and hospitality teams.
• Strong understanding of HACCP standards, food safety regulations, and sanitation practices.
• Experience managing budgets and P&L in a food service environment preferred.
• ServSafe Certification required.
• Excellent communication and client relationship management skills.
• A passion for hospitality, innovation, culinary excellence, and high-quality ingredients.

WHY JOIN US

Be part of a growing and dynamic culinary program where creativity is encouraged, quality is never compromised, and your leadership directly shapes the daily experience of executives, clients, and employees. You’ll have the opportunity to elevate executive dining and catering services while bringing fresh ideas, innovative menus, and exceptional hospitality to every guest interaction.

Canteen is a member of Compass Group USA

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.

Canteen maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates at Canteen

are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• 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
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• 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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_Canteen.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Canteen