Culinary Operations Manager

Compass Group USA; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Job summary

Bon Appetit is seeking a Chef Manager to lead culinary and food service operations with a focus on scratch cooking, seasonal ingredients, and sustainability. The role combines hands-on kitchen leadership with administrative duties, including inventory control and cost management.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years of culinary management experience in contract foodservice or high-volume settings, strong leadership, and knowledge of HACCP and food safety standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of culinary management experience in contract foodservice, fine dining, hospitality, or high-volume restaurant settings.
• Strong understanding of P&L management and experience in a contract‑managed service environment preferred.
• Proven expertise in menu development, production planning, cost control, and inventory management.
• Extensive knowledge of culinary trends, sustainability practices, and food safety regulations.
• Experience with exhibition cooking and interacting with guests in a customer‑focused environment.
• Effective team leadership and performance management skills, including conducting performance evaluations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Culinary degree or equivalent experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of culinary operations, including production, menu planning, food preparation, presentation, and sanitation.
• Manage full food service operations, including inventory control, ordering, receiving, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP standards, health regulations, and company food safety policies.
• Collaborate with the dining team on creative menu development that emphasizes fresh, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients.
• Maintain P&L accountability, oversee food and labor costs, and contribute to financial reporting and forecasting.
• Lead all hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and performance management for frontline staff.
• Train, mentor, and coach culinary and service teams to uphold service standards and culinary excellence.
• Ensure attention to detail across front- and back-of-house operations, including cleanliness, signage, menu displays, and pricing.
• Support special events, catering functions, and guest dining experiences.
• Lead all aspects of administrative functions such as staff payroll, invoicing, and weekly and month-end reporting.
• Champion a culture of safety, partnership, and continuous improvement across the operation.

Skills

Culinary management

P&L management

Menu development

Team leadership

Food safety

Exhibition cooking

Performance management

MS Office

Education

Culinary degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Bon Appetit is seeking a Chef Manager to lead culinary and food service operations with a focus on scratch cooking, seasonal ingredients, and sustainability. The role combines hands-on kitchen leadership with administrative duties, including inventory control and cost management.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years of culinary management experience in contract foodservice or high-volume settings, strong leadership, and knowledge of HACCP and food safety standards.