Executive Chef

Wolfgang Puck Catering; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Wolfgang Puck Catering in Chicago’s Harper Center seeks an Executive Chef to lead a premier corporate dining and catering program. This role blends café service with high-end events, guiding a skilled team in a professional setting with a schedule predominantly Monday–Friday and occasional after-hours events.

You will shape menus, control food costs, mentor about 20 culinary staff, and ensure top-tier quality and guest experience in line with client expectations.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience leading culinary teams in high-volume environments.
• Strong catering planning, production, and event execution.
• Hands-on leadership and willingness to work during service.
• Knowledge of menu planning, food costing, inventory, and kitchen ops.
• Awareness of trends, quality, sustainability, guest experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations for café and catering programs with focus on quality and guest satisfaction.
• Develop and execute regular and specialty menus aligned with client expectations.
• Oversee food production using standardized recipes and portions.
• Coach and mentor ~20 culinary team members to high performance.
• Train on sanitation, safety, and equipment use; ensure health compliance.
• Collaborate with operations, catering, and clients to ensure successful events.
• Monitor food and labor costs; manage purchasing and inventory.
• Maintain records, waste tracking, and operational reporting.

Skills

Executive leadership

Culinary operations

Menu planning

Food costing

Inventory management

Team mentorship

Vendor relations

Quality control

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Web-based systems

Job description

$78,000 - $90,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Annual Performance Bonus Opportunity (Up to 25% 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.

Job Summary

Join Wolfgang Puck Catering as the Executive Chef at the Harper Center in Chicago, a premier business and industry dining account that blends a vibrant café operation with elevated catering experiences. This role offers the opportunity to shape exceptional culinary experiences in a professional corporate environment while leading a talented and engaged team. The Harper Center operates primarily Monday through Friday, offering a strong quality-of-life schedule with limited weekend and holiday requirements. While the café serves guests throughout the workweek, the operation also hosts special catering events that occasionally take place outside of regular business hours. This is an exciting opportunity for a culinary leader who enjoys balancing day-to-day operational excellence with creative event execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations for the café and catering program, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Develop and execute regular and specialty menus that align with client expectations, culinary trends, and company standards.
• Prepare and oversee food production using standardized recipes, portioning guidelines, and presentation standards.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing kitchen culture through coaching, development, and mentorship of approximately 20 culinary team members.
• Train team members on food preparation techniques, sanitation practices, workplace safety, and proper equipment use.
• Collaborate with operations, catering, and client partners to ensure successful execution of meetings, events, and special functions.
• Monitor food and labor costs while maintaining quality standards and operational efficiency.
• Manage purchasing, inventory, and product utilization to support financial goals and minimize waste.
• Maintain production records, waste tracking, and operational reporting as required.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local health regulations, as well as company food safety and sanitation standards.
• Establish and maintain cleaning, maintenance, and preventive care schedules for kitchen equipment and work areas.
• Participate in client meetings, team development initiatives, and company-wide programs that support continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience leading culinary teams in corporate dining, catering, restaurants, hotels, or other high-volume foodservice environments.
• Strong catering experience, including planning, production, and event execution.
• Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to work alongside the team during service and events.
• Knowledge of menu planning, food costing, inventory management, and kitchen operations.
• Understanding of current culinary and catering trends with a focus on quality, sustainability, and guest experience.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with team members, clients, and operational partners.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, Outlook, email, and web-based business systems.
• ServSafe Certification or willingness to obtain certification.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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

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.

Background Screening

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

Benefits

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

Additional Information

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.

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