Executive Chef

The Sterling Choice; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations from its San Francisco facility for a major airline catering business. You will own culinary performance, oversee large-scale production, and spearhead menu development to meet airline specifications while maintaining safety, quality and cost targets.

You will manage kitchen leadership teams, ensure on-time delivery, and interact with airline customers and senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Executive Chef / senior culinary leadership experience within airline catering.
• Experience leading large-scale production and operational teams.
• Experience managing sizeable culinary teams in fast-paced environments.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, quality and compliance.
• Menu development and implementation experience.
• Commercial understanding across food cost, labour, waste and productivity.
• Confident working directly with airline customers and senior stakeholders.
• Forward-thinking leader who develops people and growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations from the San Francisco facility, owning culinary performance across the unit.
• Oversee large-scale production, ensuring quality, safety and on-time delivery.
• Develop and implement airline menus aligned with customer requirements.
• Manage kitchen leadership teams and drive cost, waste and productivity improvements.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, HACCP compliance and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Executive leadership

Airline catering expertise

Large-scale production

Menu development

Food safety HACCP

Cost & productivity management

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

We’re supporting a major international airline catering business with the appointment of an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations from its San Francisco facility.

This is a key leadership hire within a growing operation, and we’re looking for someone who already understands the demands, pace and complexity of airline catering. You’ll take ownership of culinary performance across the unit, leading large-scale production, developing and executing airline menus, managing kitchen leadership teams and ensuring consistently high standards across quality, food safety, cost and delivery.

With significant growth ahead, this isn’t a position for someone who needs time to learn the airline catering environment. We’re looking for an experienced culinary leader who can come in, understand the operation quickly and make an impact.

What we’re looking for:

• Executive Chef / senior culinary leadership experience within airline catering
• Strong large-scale food production and operational leadership experience
• Experience managing sizeable culinary teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, quality and compliance
• Menu development and implementation experience
• Commercial understanding across food cost, labour, waste and productivity
• Confident working directly with airline customers and senior stakeholders
• A forward-thinking leader who can develop people and support continued growth

If you’ve built your career within airline catering and are interested in taking ownership of a growing culinary operation, I’d be keen to speak.