Executive Sous Chef, School Dining & Catering

Compass Group USA; Mercersburg (Franklin County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Flik Independent School Dining is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to support the culinary operations at Mercersburg Academy, a private boarding and day school in Mercersburg, PA.

You will assist daily food production, menu development, catering, inventory management, and supervise hourly kitchen staff. This role emphasizes scratch cooking, strict quality, and safe, compliant operations in a fast-paced school setting.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of dynamic culinary or kitchen management experience in high-volume foodservice operations; K–12, institutional, or contract dining preferred.
• Knowledge of scratch cooking, batch production, and food cost controls.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef in daily kitchen operations, including food preparation, production, and supervision of back-of-house staff.
• Support cost control initiatives by assisting with inventory management, ordering, and minimizing food waste.
• Help plan, develop, and implement menus that align with culinary standards, student preferences, and nutritional guidelines.
• Lead or support the preparation and execution of catered events, ensuring high-quality food, presentation, and service.
• Implement and support new culinary programs and initiatives in collaboration with the Executive Chef and corporate culinary team.
• Ensure all food safety and sanitation guidelines are rigorously followed, including HACCP and allergy protocols.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, cleanliness, and organization in all kitchen areas.
• Participate in training and mentoring hourly culinary staff to support skill development and team culture.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Culinary leadership

Scratch cooking

Food cost controls

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

ServSafe Certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

Flik Independent School Dining is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to support the culinary operations at Mercersburg Academy, a private boarding and day school in Mercersburg, PA.

You will assist daily food production, menu development, catering, inventory management, and supervise hourly kitchen staff. This role emphasizes scratch cooking, strict quality, and safe, compliant operations in a fast-paced school setting.