Executive Chef - Menlo School
FLIK Independent School Dining
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Menlo School partners with Flik Independent School Dining to appoint an Executive Chef who will lead all culinary operations, menu development, and service for a premier independent day school serving approximately 820 students.
This hands-on leadership role focuses on quality, safety, and student wellness, with a Monday–Friday schedule and collaboration with school leadership to deliver memorable dining experiences.
Qualifications
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred.
- 3–5 years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
- Proven success managing food and labor costs while maintaining quality.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience with scratch cooking and menu development.
- Passion for dining experiences that support student well-being.
- Proficiency with kitchen management systems and Microsoft Office.
- ServSafe Certification preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead all culinary functions, including menu planning, food prep, recipe development, and service execution.
- Manage food and labor costs while maintaining budget compliance.
- Oversee purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, allergen, and HACCP standards.
- Recruit, train, coach, and mentor culinary team members.
- Partner with culinary and marketing teams to develop seasonal menus and promotions.
- Support events and catering functions with high-quality execution.
- Oversee back-of-house operations to ensure cleanliness and regulatory compliance.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Salary: $100000 - $110000 / year
Other Forms of Compensation: N/A
Flik Independent School Dining has been leading the way in transforming private and independent school foodservice across 300 communities for over four decades. Our passionate team of associates is fully committed to delivering exceptional foodservice experiences every single time. Our meals are crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit our communities. But we don't stop at just foodservice – we take it to the next level by offering cutting-edge nutrition education programs that empower students to make smart, healthy choices daily. By combining nutritious meals with comprehensive education, we equip students with the essential tools they need to lead a healthy and thriving life. We believe in nourishing the whole person, creating community through great food and programming, and doing what’s right, every time.
We are Nourishing a Brighter Future.
Join a premier educational community and take advantage of a rare culinary leadership opportunity that offers a desirable Monday-Friday schedule, work-life balance, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on students every day.
As the Executive Chef, you will lead all culinary operations at Menlo School, a nationally recognized, coeducational independent day school serving approximately 820 students in grades 6-12. Menlo is dedicated to fostering a culture of kindness, trust, belonging, and inclusivity where every student is empowered to thrive as their authentic self. This position offers the unique opportunity to combine culinary excellence with purpose, creating exceptional dining experiences that support student wellness, learning, and community engagement.
This hands-on leadership role is responsible for overseeing all kitchen operations, driving culinary innovation, developing a high-performing team, and ensuring exceptional food quality, safety, and service standards. The Executive Chef will work closely with school leadership and the dining services team to create memorable dining experiences that reflect the values and expectations of the Menlo School community.
- Monday-Friday schedule with a strong focus on work-life balance.
- Rare opportunity to work in an educational environment where you can positively influence students through nutritious, high-quality meals.
- Collaborative, community-focused culture with opportunities for creativity and culinary innovation.
- Lead a talented team while making a lasting impact on the daily experience of students, faculty, and staff.
- Lead all culinary functions, including menu planning, food preparation, recipe development, and service execution.
- Manage food and labor costs while maintaining budget compliance and implementing cost-control strategies.
- Oversee purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, allergen, and HACCP standards.
- Recruit, train, coach, and mentor culinary team members, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
- Partner with culinary and marketing teams to develop seasonal menus and special promotions.
- Support special events and catering functions, delivering exceptional quality and presentation.
- Oversee back-of-house operations to ensure cleanliness, organization, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with the Director of Dining on performance management initiatives, including coaching, development, and annual performance evaluations.
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred.
- 3-5 years of progressive culinary leadership experience, preferably in high-volume foodservice, hospitality, education, or catering environments.
- Proven success managing food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience with scratch cooking, menu development, and team building.
- Passion for creating exceptional dining experiences and supporting the health and well-being of students and school communities.
- Proficiency with kitchen management systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
- ServSafe Certification preferred.
Flik Independent School Dining is a member of Compass Group USA.
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance/ AD
- Disability Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
- Associate Shopping Program
- Health and Wellness Programs
- Discount MarketplaceIdentity Theft Protection
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Personal Leave
Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_FISD.pdf
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. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.
Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Flik Independent School Dining maintains a drug-free workplace.
Req ID: 1544388
FISD
STEPHANIE FREER
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