Hands-On Culinary Operations Manager

Quest Food Management Services; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Quest Food Management Services is seeking a Chef Manager to lead a hands-on culinary operation for a Business & Industry dining account in Downers Grove. You will supervise daily kitchen activities, develop menus from scratch, manage costs, and maintain client relations while delivering high-quality, safe meals to about 300 guests daily.

This salaried, full-time role requires strong leadership, budgeting, catering coordination, and a commitment to Quest standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of culinary, food service, or hospitality management experience in a high-volume environment.
• Strong hands-on cooking and culinary skills.
• Experience with menu planning and development.
• Experience with purchasing, ordering, inventory management, and food-cost control.
• Experience planning and executing catering and/or special events.
• Demonstrated experience leading, training, and developing a team.
• Experience managing budgets, food and labor costs, and/or P&L responsibilities.
• Strong client and customer relationship skills.
• Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles.
• Ability to balance culinary with administrative and operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day culinary and food service operations, ensuring consistent Quest standards.
• Maintain hands-on kitchen presence, including food prep and catering as needed.
• Develop and execute menus that are appealing, feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with Quest standards.
• Plan and execute catering services and special events.
• Manage purchasing, ordering, receiving, and inventory to control costs.
• Oversee account financial performance including food and labor costs and budgeting.
• Lead, train, schedule, coach, and develop team members.
• Provide ongoing feedback, recognition, and coaching to staff.
• Maintain client relationships through regular communication and proactive resolution of concerns.
• Monitor guest experience and seek opportunities to improve food quality and service.
• Ensure compliance with Quest food safety standards and regulations.
• Complete administrative responsibilities including payroll, invoices, inventory, and reporting.
• Implement Quest promotions and merchandising at the account level.
• Collaborate with leadership to meet account objectives.
• Identify operational improvements and introduce new menu items and concepts.
• Ensure adherence to policies and SOPs.

Skills

Hands-on cooking

Menu planning

Purchasing

Catering events

P&L management

Team leadership

Food safety

Client relations

Budget control

Operations management

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Quest Food Management Services is seeking a Chef Manager to lead a hands-on culinary operation for a Business & Industry dining account in Downers Grove. You will supervise daily kitchen activities, develop menus from scratch, manage costs, and maintain client relations while delivering high-quality, safe meals to about 300 guests daily.

This salaried, full-time role requires strong leadership, budgeting, catering coordination, and a commitment to Quest standards.