Executive Chef- Mississippi Valley State University

Thompson Hospitality; Itta Bena (MS); On-site; USD 45,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations at a prominent university dining facility. This role encompasses menu creation, staff management, and budget oversight, ensuring a high-quality dining experience for the university community. The ideal candidate will possess a culinary degree, extensive leadership experience, and a passion for food safety and sustainability. Join a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional service while enjoying competitive benefits and opportunities for professional growth. This is a fantastic opportunity for culinary professionals looking to make a significant impact in a vibrant educational environment.

Benefits

Health/Dental/Vision

Paid Time Off

401(k), matched up to 4%

Short- and Long-Term Disability

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral Program

Pet Insurance

Discounts: Hotels, Travel, Tickets, Restaurants

Discounted meal plan for employees and relatives

Qualifications

• Culinary degree and certifications required for this leadership role.
• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or in a high-level culinary role.

Responsibilities

• Design diverse, nutritionally balanced menus while ensuring cost-efficiency.
• Recruit, train, and lead kitchen staff while maintaining high food quality standards.

Skills

Culinary Expertise

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Budget Management

Food Safety Standards

Menu Development

Team Management

Culinary Trends Awareness

Education

Culinary Degree

Professional Certifications

Tools

Culinary Software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Overview

The Executive Chef at Mississippi Valley State University's Dining Facility holds a pivotal role in leading the culinary operations. This position involves overseeing menu creation, food preparation, staff management, budgeting, and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. The Executive Chef plays a key role in providing a high-quality dining experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Competitive Benefits:

• Health/Dental/Vision
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k), matched up to 4%
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Pet Insurance
• Discounts: Hotels, Travel, Tickets, Restaurants
• Employees and their relatives are eligible for a discounted meal plan at any of our HBCU client locations while they are attending school.

Responsibilities

• Design and plan diverse, nutritionally balanced menus, considering cost-efficiency and sustainability while meeting the preferences and needs of the university community.
• Provide culinary expertise and creative direction to the culinary team, maintaining high standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Recruit, train, and lead kitchen staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and excellence.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback.
• Develop and manage culinary budgets, control food and labor costs, and minimize waste while maximizing operational efficiency and maintaining food quality.
• Oversee compliance with food safety regulations, sanitation guidelines, and organizational policies to ensure a safe and hygienic food preparation and service environment.
• Establish and maintain relationships with food suppliers and vendors, negotiate contracts, and coordinate procurement for quality ingredients and supplies.
• Stay informed about culinary trends, emerging dining preferences, and sustainability practices to integrate new ideas into the menu and service, enhancing the dining experience.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree from an accredited institution and relevant professional certifications.
• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or in a high-level culinary leadership role.
• Comprehensive knowledge of culinary techniques, menu development, and food safety standards.
• Experience with higher level education food service and dining facility is preferred.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage a diverse culinary team.
• Proficient computer skills, including culinary software and Microsoft Office Suite.

Who We Are:

Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is a historically Black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA. Founded in 1950, it plays a crucial role in providing educational opportunities to African American students, especially in the Mississippi Delta region. MVSU offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with an emphasis on academic excellence, research, and community engagement, striving to empower its students and uplift the local community.

Thompson Hospitality is the nation’s largest minority-owned food and facilities management company. Our services include hospitality, full dining and quick service restaurants, campus dining, diversity consultation, facility operations and maintenance management. We are a family-run organization with more than twenty-five years providing services built on our core mission to provide a positive experience to every relationship we are involved in: one guest, one client, one team member at a time. As a fast growing company, we have a growth plan to more than double in size over the next three years. We are looking for team members who are interested in developing their careers to the next level while joining our team of over 4,000 employees, serving clients in over 40 states to include more than 1.9 million guests each year.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.