Executive Chef — Campus Dining Innovator

Compass Group USA; Verona (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Job summary

Gourmet Dining, a Compass Group USA company, seeks an Executive Chef to lead culinary excellence across premier campus dining programs in the New York region. This role combines creative menu development with hands-on leadership in a dynamic, high-volume environment.

You will drive quality, food safety, and guest satisfaction while mentoring a culinary team and partnering with campus operations to deliver innovative dining experiences.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive culinary management experience.
• Experience in high-volume dining, foodservice, or catering.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing food costs, labor budgets, and inventory controls.
• Demonstrated leadership experience developing and motivating culinary teams.
• Passion for innovation, student engagement, and creating memorable dining experiences.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Desire to learn, grow, and build a long-term career with an industry-leading foodservice organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations for a designated campus account with strategic leadership and hands-on support.
• Create and execute diverse, innovative menus reflecting current culinary trends and client expectations.
• Manage food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Purchase products, oversee inventory management, and ensure efficient resource use.
• Drive new culinary initiatives and collaborate with marketing and operations teams to introduce dining concepts.
• Maintain strict food safety, sanitation, and HACCP compliance standards.
• Support catering operations, events, and campus-wide dining programs.
• Ensure goals are met while delivering an outstanding guest experience.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Cost control

Menu development

Food safety

Team management

Budget awareness

Quality focus

Innovation mindset

Education

Culinary degree preferred

Job description

Gourmet Dining, a Compass Group USA company, seeks an Executive Chef to lead culinary excellence across premier campus dining programs in the New York region. This role combines creative menu development with hands-on leadership in a dynamic, high-volume environment.

You will drive quality, food safety, and guest satisfaction while mentoring a culinary team and partnering with campus operations to deliver innovative dining experiences.