Complex Executive Chef

Compass Group Careers; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/AD&D

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

FSAs

Job summary

Wolfgang Puck Catering is seeking a Complex Executive Chef in Culver City, CA to shape culinary vision for a diverse dining account. You will guide menus, lead multi-service operations, and drive excellence across food quality, service, and financial performance.

You will collaborate with culinary, operations, and hospitality teams to develop menus, foster an inclusive culture, and mentor teams for growth.

Qualifications

• Leads culinary teams with a track record of quality and consistency.
• Manages kitchen operations in high-output environments.
• Creates innovative, guest-focused menus aligned to client expectations.
• Controls food costs, inventory, and labor to meet financial targets.
• Ensures compliance with food safety and sanitation standards.
• Mentors and develops staff for long-term growth within the program.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support all culinary operations across cafés, executive dining, catering, and micro market services.
• Inspire, coach, and develop culinary team members while fostering collaboration and learning.
• Design and execute seasonal, innovative menus that meet client expectations and trends.
• Manage food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional quality and service.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory, product utilization, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with operations, marketing, and culinary leadership to implement new programs.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and guest satisfaction.
• Support catering and events with creative menu development and flawless execution.
• Promote a positive guest experience through quality and hospitality.

Skills

Culinary leadership

High-volume operations

Menu development

Budget management

Food safety

Team mentorship

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

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Other Forms of Compensation:Annual Performance Bonus Opportunity (Up to 20% of Base Salary)

Where Passion Meets Purpose - and Careers Come Alive

At Wolfgang Puck Catering, great careers are crafted the same way great food is — with passion, intention, and the right people around you. We hire for curiosity, spirit, and heart, and we invest in everything you bring to the table. Through mentorship, real development, and a clear path to leadership, we're committed to your journey — not just your job title.Come be part of something that challenges and champions you in equal measure.

"I can have the best food, but if we don't have good people, it won't get you very far." — Wolfgang Puck

Success on our team starts with our culture:

• We have Wolfgang’s PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
• A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.
• Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
• We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don’t have to.
• We curate company and partner resources to bring our client’s vision to life. We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
• We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).
• Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.

“I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far.”

Job Summary

At Wolfgang Puck Catering, we believe exceptional food experiences bring people together. As Complex Executive Chef, you will play a key role in shaping the culinary vision for a diverse dining account that includes cafés, micro markets, executive dining, and catering operations. This is an opportunity to combine creativity, operational excellence, and team leadership to deliver memorable experiences for guests every day.

In this role, you'll collaborate with culinary, operations, and hospitality teams to develop innovative menus, support a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and drive continuous improvement across food quality, service, and financial performance. If you enjoy creating exceptional dining experiences while mentoring teams and growing your culinary expertise, we'd love to connect with you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support all culinary operations across cafés, executive dining, catering, and micro market services.
• Inspire, coach, and develop culinary team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous learning.
• Design and execute seasonal, innovative, and guest-focused menus that align with client expectations and culinary trends.
• Manage food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional food quality and service standards.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory management, product utilization, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, health, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with operations, marketing, and culinary leadership teams to introduce and implement new culinary programs and initiatives.
• Monitor operational performance and identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, guest satisfaction, and financial results.
• Support catering and special events with creative menu development and flawless execution.
• Promote a positive guest experience through consistent quality, presentation, and hospitality.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading culinary teams in a high-volume foodservice, hospitality, catering, or corporate dining environment.
• Culinary management experience with responsibility for kitchen operations, team development, and financial performance.
• Strong understanding of food production, menu planning, purchasing, and inventory management.
• Experience managing food and labor cost controls and contributing to budget performance.
• Background supporting catering operations and special events.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance practices.
• Culinary degree, certification, or equivalent professional experience is welcomed.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for hospitality, innovation, and creating outstanding guest experiences.
• Growth mindset with a desire to learn, collaborate, and build a long‑term career with a premier foodservice organization.

Wolfgang Puck Catering 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.

Associates at Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic 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)

Wolfgang Puck Catering maintains a drugfree workplace.

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.