Executive Chef

careers-ucfs; Isla Vista (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking an Executive Chef to lead a premier, multi-unit campus dining program. You will oversee residential dining, large-scale catering, and retail components with a focus on culinary excellence, sustainability, and safety.

The role requires 5+ years in high-volume hospitality settings, ServSafe HACCP certification, and strong leadership to drive continuous growth across campuses. Join a team committed to quality, culture, and innovation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading high-volume culinary programs.
• ServSafe Manager certification and HACCP knowledge.
• Degree from accredited culinary institution or equivalent experience.
• Experience in multi-unit hospitality settings.
• Strong communication and leadership with a focus on safety.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily operations across a residential dining hall and catering.
• Design seasonal menus and menu cycles.
• Mentor 5–7 associates and 1 sous-chef; maintain morale.
• Manage P&L, food/labor cost control, and inventory auditing.
• Ensure food safety standards and allergen management.
• Lead campus-wide culinary innovations and strategic initiatives.
• Develop talent and leadership pipeline for the region.
• Oversee guest experience and unit food quality.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to meet financial goals.

Skills

Leadership

Financial acumen

Communication

Food safety

Mentorship

Spanish

Education

Culinary degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Google Suite

Job description

Upper Crust Food Service is a premier hospitality partner delivering high-end, chef-driven dining solutions to over 750+ partners nationwide. While our footprint is expansive, we have intentionally maintained a culture that is small enough to care deeply for our employees and clients. We deliver elevated restaurant-quality culinary experiences, and a hospitality-first culture. At Upper Crust, we believe that great food is the cornerstone of the student experience, and we empower our leadership teams to run their accounts with the entrepreneurial spirit of a boutique restaurant, backed by the robust resources of a national industry leader.

Upper Crust Food Service isn’tjust looking for an Executive Chef; we’re looking for a culinary architectto lead a premier, multi-unit dining program.This role is designed for a visionary leader who can balance the complexities of high-volume residential dining with the high stakes environment of collegiate athletics and large-scale catering. You will oversee a comprehensive portfolio for a campus community of over500+daily diners.Focused on culinary excellence, sustainability, and technology integration,ourprogram delivers full-service cafés, catering, and retail designed to enhance thecampus life culture

What You’ll Do

• Orchestrate Excellence:Direct daily operations acrossaresidential dining halland a high-volume catering department.
• Innovate the Menu:Design seasonal, menucycles
• Lead with Heart:Mentor a diverse team of5-7associates and1souschef. We value a culture of "continuous growth" and are looking for a leader who can maintain our record of low turnover and high morale.
• Master the Financials:Take the reins of P&L management, food/labor cost control, and inventoryauditing. You’ll use tools to ensure we stay lean, green, and nutritionally transparent.
• Multi-Unit Safety & Compliance: Systematically oversee workplace and food safety standards across the zone, including meticulous allergen management and regional regulatory compliance.
• Culinary Innovation & Strategy: Lead and support campus-wide initiatives, including seasonal menu planning, recipe development, and the integration of diverse culinary trends.
• Associate Engagement: Drive a culture of diversity and inclusion, proactively engaging with associates to build a representative and high-performing workforce.
• Talent Development: Strategically assist with talent identification, training, and the development of a leadership pipeline for the region.
• Quality & Experience: Oversee food quality standards and the guest experience at scale, ensuringthat every unit reflects the program’s core values.
• Financial Stewardship: Provide sophisticated financial management to deliver on budgetary expectations for food, labor, and operational expenses across the multi-unit portfolio.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience, specifically driving excellence in premier high-volume corporateor hospitalityenvironments.
• Notintimidatedby serving500+ meals a day or executing a commencement gala for1,200
• ServsafeManagersand HACCP certified, with a reputation for maintaining "Gold Standard" health ratings.
• Education: Degree from an accredited culinary institutionor equivalent experience on the ground.
• Multi-Unit Leadership: A minimum of5years of multi-unit culinary supervisory experience within a high-volume, premium food service environment.
• Safety & Cultural Vision: Proven track record of driving and enhancing a robust culture focused on Food and Workplace Safety at a leadership level.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to manage complex multi-unit budgets, utilize advanced reporting platforms, and consistently meet financial goals.
• Communication: Ability to coach and teach individuals and large teams, while effectively communicating with high-level stakeholders.
• Operational Alignment: Passion for exceptional food, sustainability, and hospitality.
• Technical Proficiency: Technical skills, including a working knowledge of Google Suite tools (Sheets, Docs, Slides).
• Certifications:ServSafeManager Certification is preferred.
• Spanish is a plus

Why Join Upper Crust Food Service?

• 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
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave