Chef Manager: Menu Innovation & Ops Lead

Bon Appétit Management Company; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

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

FSAs

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appetit markets an opportunity for a hands-on Chef Manager to lead culinary operations at the Santa Clara Market. The role emphasizes menu innovation, operational excellence, and delivering an exceptional guest experience in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

The candidate will develop seasonal menus, coach teams, and drive food quality while ensuring adherence to HACCP standards and cost controls. Strong leadership and collaboration are essential to succeed in this role.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of Chef Manager or culinary management experience in high-volume settings.
• Culinary degree or AS in Culinary Arts preferred; relevant experience considered.
• Experience with menu development, recipe creation, and seasonal menu planning.
• Experience leading teams in fast-paced restaurant operations.
• Strong knowledge of food costing, purchasing, inventory management, and budget accountability.
• Working knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety regulations.
• Experience using CM+ or similar menu management platform preferred.
• ServSafe certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations with focus on quality, consistency, and execution.
• Develop and refresh menus aligned with guest preferences and seasonal ingredients.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, ordering, receiving, and food cost controls.
• Oversee scheduling, staffing, training, and development of culinary team.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, and HACCP standards.
• Monitor labor costs, productivity, and overall kitchen performance.
• Utilize CM+ or similar menu management platforms to develop recipes and production docs.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, and exceptional guest service.

Skills

Menu development

Team leadership

Food cost control

Inventory management

Food safety (HACCP)

CM+ knowledge

ServSafe certification

Education

Culinary degree or AS in Culinary Arts

Tools

CM+ or similar platform

Job description

Bon Appetit markets an opportunity for a hands-on Chef Manager to lead culinary operations at the Santa Clara Market. The role emphasizes menu innovation, operational excellence, and delivering an exceptional guest experience in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

The candidate will develop seasonal menus, coach teams, and drive food quality while ensuring adherence to HACCP standards and cost controls. Strong leadership and collaboration are essential to succeed in this role.