Executive Chef - Culinary Innovation and Excellence for School Food Service Program- Jacksonville FL

AECOM; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative culinary leader is sought to drive excellence in a dynamic school food service program. This role involves overseeing the culinary execution of over 100,000 meals daily, leading a dedicated team, and ensuring compliance with nutritional standards. The ideal candidate will possess significant R&D expertise, strong leadership skills, and a passion for culinary creativity. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to enhancing student dining experiences through quality food and engaging initiatives. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact in the culinary field, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of culinary/kitchen management experience required.
• Must have hands-on chef experience and knowledge of food trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of sous chefs and food truck associates.
• Develop innovative menus and oversee food safety protocols.
• Engage in student-driven culinary projects and events.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary Creativity

Food Safety

R&D Expertise

Operational Excellence

Education

A.S. or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

Chartwells K12

Position Title: Executive Chef - Culinary Innovation and Excellence for School Food Service Program - Jacksonville, FL

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Job Summary

Are you a visionary Executive Chef with high-volume production and R&D experience? Chartwells K-12 seeks an innovative culinary leader to oversee the recipe development and culinary execution of 100,000+ meals served daily across 150 Duval Public Schools and produced in part within the state-of-the-art 70,000 sq. ft. Nutrition Service Center and in school cafeterias.

What You’ll Do:

1. Lead a team of 2-3 Sous Chefs & 6-7 Food Truck associates in a unionized hourly workforce.
2. Oversee inventory, invoicing, food safety, and QA protocols for large-scale food transportation.
3. Develop innovative and NSLP compliant menus in partnership with the Nutrition Manager.
4. Lead catering, special events, and food truck operations.
5. Provide culinary support and training to school cafeteria associates.
6. Engage in student-driven initiatives, focus groups, and other marketing and engagement culinary projects.

What We’re Looking For:

1. R&D expertise with experience in large-scale food manufacturing.
2. Strong leadership & organizational skills to drive operational excellence.
3. High-level catering experience with a passion for culinary creativity.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. A.S. or equivalent experience.
2. Minimum of three to five years of progressive culinary/kitchen management experience, depending upon formal degree or training.
3. Extensive catering experience a plus.
4. High volume, complex foodservice operations experience - highly desirable.
5. Institutional and batch cooking experiences.
6. Hands-on chef experience a must.
7. Comprehensive knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation.
8. Must be experienced with computers; to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Outlook, E-mail, and the Internet.
9. ServSafe certified - highly desirable.
10. Certified Executive Chef (CEC) or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certifications are highly desirable.

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA.

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 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.

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.