Executive Chef - K-12 School Dining Leader

Compass Group USA; Edgemont (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Waterford School in Sandy, Utah, is seeking an Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations for a 1,100-student K-12 program. This hands-on leadership role requires dedication to food quality, safety, innovation, and service excellence.

You will oversee kitchen operations, mentor a culinary team, and collaborate with school leadership to deliver a vibrant dining program. The ideal candidate will bring a culinary degree, 3–5 years of high-volume management experience, strong cost control, and a

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred.
• 3–5 years of dynamic culinary management experience, preferably in high-volume foodservice or catering environments.
• Confirmed ability to lead food and labor costs while maintaining quality standards.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in scratch cooking, menu innovation, and staff development.
• Passion for food quality, safety, and crafting outstanding dining experiences for students and school communities.
• Proficiency with kitchen operations software and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary functions including menu planning, food preparation, recipe development, and service execution.
• Lead food and labor costs; maintain budget compliance and implement cost control strategies.
• Purchase food and kitchen supplies; run vendor relationships and maintain accurate inventory.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and allergy protocols; uphold HACCP standards.
• Recruit, train, and mentor culinary team members, encouraging a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with marketing and culinary teams to launch seasonal menus and promotional programs.
• Support special events and catering functions, ensuring high-quality food and detailed execution.
• Supervise back‑of‑house operations to ensure cleanliness, organization, and compliance with company and regulatory standards.
• Works in tandem with Director of Dining to engage in associates performance management and prepare and conduct annual performance evaluations.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Scratch cooking

Menu innovation

Staff development

Kitchen software

Microsoft Office

ServSafe certification

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent professional training

Tools

Kitchen operations software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Waterford School in Sandy, Utah, is seeking an Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations for a 1,100-student K-12 program. This hands-on leadership role requires dedication to food quality, safety, innovation, and service excellence.

You will oversee kitchen operations, mentor a culinary team, and collaborate with school leadership to deliver a vibrant dining program. The ideal candidate will bring a culinary degree, 3–5 years of high-volume management experience, strong cost control, and a