Executive Chef

Aramark; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Aramark Healthcare+ is seeking an Executive Chef to lead culinary production at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center in Salinas, California. This role oversees patient dining, retail, and catering, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and presentation while guiding a team of culinary professionals toward exceptional hospitality across the hospital.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of progressive culinary experience with leadership responsibility.
• Executive Chef experience preferred or equivalent senior culinary leadership experience.
• Experience in healthcare, higher education, or high-volume foodservice environments.
• Strong understanding of food production, inventory management, forecasting, and large-scale operations.
• Experience with production management systems such as Prima or similar platforms.
• Culinary degree, certification, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations for patient dining, retail dining, catering, and events.
• Oversee food production, presentation, quality assurance, and safety standards.
• Develop and coach a salaried leadership team and 30+ hourly staff.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership to enhance patient and visitor dining experiences.
• Monitor food and labor costs, inventory, and operations for efficiency.

Skills

Executive leadership

Healthcare foodservice

Culinary operations

Forecasting & inventory

Production management

Team leadership

Education

Culinary degree or certification

Tools

Prima

Job description

Job Description

Aramark Healthcare+ is seeking an Executive Chef to lead culinary production at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center in Salinas, California.

We are seeking a leader with a positive attitude, strong people leadership skills, and a willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic healthcare environment. This role is responsible for overseeing food production across patient dining, retail, and catering services, ensuring high standards of food quality, consistency, safety, and presentation. The Executive Chef will lead and develop a team of culinary professionals while partnering with operational leaders to support exceptional hospitality and dining experiences throughout the hospital.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Compensation Data

COMPENSATION: The Salaried rate for this position is $90,000 to $130,000. This is Aramark's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.

BENEFITS: Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information about Aramark benefits.

There is no predetermined application window for this position, the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to all applicable Fair Chance Ordinances and Acts. For jobs in San Francisco, this includes the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations for patient dining, retail dining, catering, and special events.


• Oversee food production, presentation, quality assurance, and food safety standards.


• Manage and develop a culinary team consisting of salaried leaders, sous chefs, and 30+ hourly associates.


• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment while coaching and developing team members.


• Ensure compliance with all Aramark, regulatory, and healthcare foodservice standards.


• Utilize food production and inventory management systems to support forecasting, production planning, and waste reduction.


• Monitor and manage food cost, labor cost, inventory, and overall financial performance.


• Partner with hospital and client leadership to enhance the dining experience for patients, visitors, and staff.


• Maintain high standards for sanitation, safety, and operational excellence.


• Support catering functions and special events throughout the facility.


• Ensure proper equipment maintenance and efficient kitchen operations.


• Drive innovation while maintaining consistency, quality, and guest satisfaction.


• Lead daily huddles, team meetings, associate recognition efforts, and performance management activities.

At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of progressive culinary experience, including leadership responsibility.


• Executive Chef experience preferred, or equivalent senior culinary leadership experience.


• Experience in healthcare, higher education, corporate dining, contract food service, hospitality, or other high-volume foodservice environments.


• Strong understanding of food production systems, inventory management, forecasting, and large-scale food operations.


• Experience with production management systems such as Prima or similar platforms preferred.


• Culinary degree, certification, or equivalent professional experience.


• Proven ability to lead teams, build relationships, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.


• Flexibility to work varied schedules, including occasional evenings, weekends, and special events.

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.