Executive Chef - Menlo School

Compass Group USA; Atherton (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Flik Independent School Dining seeks an Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations at Menlo School, a coeducational, independent day school serving about 820 students.

This hands-on leadership role emphasizes food quality, safety, menu innovation, and service excellence, overseeing kitchen operations, team development, and collaboration with the school to deliver nutritious, tasty dining.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training.
• 3-5 years of dynamic culinary management experience.
• Ability to lead food and labor costs while maintaining quality.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in scratch cooking and menu innovation.
• Proficiency with kitchen operations software and Microsoft Office Suite.

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

Menu planning

Food preparation

Recipe development

Cost control

Vendor management

Inventory management

HACCP compliance

Team leadership

Training & mentoring

Event support

Back-of-house supervision

Performance management

Education

Culinary degree

Tools

MS Office

Kitchen operations software

ServSafe Certification

Job description

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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.

Job Summary

As the Executive Chef, you will lead all culinary operations at Menlo School, a coeducational, independent day school serving approximately 820 students in grades 6-12. This hands-on leadership role requires a strong commitment to food quality, safety, innovation, and service excellence, overseeing kitchen operations, managing and developing a team, and collaborating closely with the school community to deliver a dining experience that meets the highest standards of nutrition, taste, and presentation.

Key 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.

Preferred 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.

Flik Independent School Dining is a member of Compass Group USA

Associates at Flik Independent School Dining are offered many fantastic benefits.

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.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Flik Independent School Dinning maintains a drug-free workplace.