On-Call Chef

Pixar Animation Studios Inc.; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 67,910,000 - 87,883,000; Full time

Job summary

Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville seeks an on-call Chef to support the Chef de Cuisine and Senior Sous Chef in managing two cafés. Responsibilities include menu planning, cost control, ordering, and day-to-day kitchen operations, with a focus on quality, safety, and guest satisfaction.

The role requires leadership experience in fast-paced kitchens, strong communication, and excellence in guest services.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in varied kitchen leadership positions.
• 3+ years in a similar supervisory capacity.
• Proficient in verbal, written & digital communication.
• Able to communicate clearly with managers, kitchen staff, and guests.
• Demonstrated excellence in guest service: reliable and courteous.

Responsibilities

• Create weekly cost-efficient menus that are seasonally inspired and broadly appealing.
• Support chefs and line cooks on a weekly changing menu from-scratch with high volume, ensuring consistency and standards.
• Provide input and feedback for kitchen personnel.
• Schedule, evaluate, and give feedback to kitchen staff.
• Train cafe employees in safety, cleanliness, and guest services.
• Order, receive, and store kitchen supplies per needs and budget.
• Manage cost containment through menu selection and product use.
• Monitor food handling and temperature controls.
• Attend weekly menu planning meetings with Chef Team.
• Pursue ongoing education to enhance knowledge and management skills.

Skills

Menu planning

Food safety

Kitchen leadership

Cost control

Communication

Knife skills

Team collaboration

Tools

Google Sheets

Docs

Word

Excel

Slack

Job description

Would you enjoy working with a top-talent culinary team, using only the finest ingredients, and serving to an appreciative and discerning community? How about having your nights, weekends, and holidays free to spend with family and friends? If you are talented, passionate about food, friendly, and curious, we invite you to join us at Pixar Animation Studios. As an On Call Chef, you’ll support the Chef de Cuisine and Senior Sous Chef in managing all aspects of our two Cafés — from food preparation and menu planning to ordering, receiving, and day-to-day kitchen operations. You’ll help craft weekly, seasonal, and cost-efficient menus, contribute to catering menu creation and event execution, and ensure that every dish meets Pixar’s high standards of quality, consistency, and safety. This role also involves maintaining compliance with food safety and handling requirements, ordering kitchen supplies, and ensuring the proper upkeep of equipment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ability to create weekly cost-efficient menus that are seasonally inspired and broadly appealing
• Provide input and support for the Chefs and line cooks who are preparing and serving all food and products for a weekly changing menu from-scratch, at a high volume, ensuring excellent consistency and compliance with the Café’s quality, portioning, cooking and serving standards
• Consult and provide input and feedback for kitchen personnel, as appropriate
• Experienced with scheduling, evaluating, and constructive feedback for kitchen personnel as appropriate
• Provide continued training to cafe employees in safety, cleanliness and sanitation, food preparation, and guest services
• Ensure that all necessary food and kitchen supplies are ordered, received, and stored in accordance with the Café’s needs, budget, and procedures
• Responsible for overall cost containment by effectively managing ordering, menu selection, and product utilization
• Check and maintain proper food handling, refrigeration temperature control points, and handling hazardous materials by Café employees
• Attend weekly menu planning meetings with Chef Team
• Pursue continued education to enhance professional knowledge and refine management skills
• Ad hoc requirements as necessary

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in varied kitchen leadership positions
• At least 3 years experience in a similar capacity
• Must be proficient in verbal, written & digital communication
• Able to communicate clearly with managers, kitchen, dining room staff, and guests
• Demonstrated excellence in guest service skills: reliable, consistent and courteous

SKILLS

• Ability to work in a high volume, fast paced kitchen environment
• Kitchen organizational skills
• Ability to compose and refine accurate prep lists and order guides for weekly changing menus as well as catering menus
• Ability to foster a collaborative and uplifting team environment
• Exceptional Knife skills
• Basic Computer knowledge: email, Google Sheets and Docs, Word, Excel, Slack to communicate with vendors and employees
• Ability to use sound judgement and to objectively assess situations or circumstances using all the relevant information and apply past experience in order to come to a decision for the best possible outcome

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Able to work in a standing position for extended periods of time
• Be able to reach, bend, stoop and frequently lift up to 50 pounds

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $23.70 to $30.67 per hour. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Pixar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We know our storytelling is at its best when we include, celebrate and embrace difference. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. We are committed to building a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Pixar participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. The Northern California studio has created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up,” “Brave,” “Inside Out,” “Coco” and “Turning Red.” Its movies and technology have won 40 Academy Awards® and the films have grossed more than $15 billion at the worldwide box office.

“Elio,” Pixars 29th feature, releases in theaters June 13, 2025. Pixars objective is to combine groundbreaking technology and world-class creative talent to develop computer-animated feature films with memorable characters and heartwarming stories that appeal to audiences of all ages.

Pixar participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.