Production Chef

Iacofano Catering Group; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Iacofanos Catering seeks a Production Chef to lead high-volume daily prep for private aviation dining, owning production planning, recipe consistency, food safety, and cost control.

You will supervise production cooks and prep staff, manage inventory in MarketMan, and ensure on-time, high-quality orders. Collaboration with Executive Chefs and General Managers is essential to meet client needs while maintaining HACCP compliance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of culinary leadership in production or high-volume kitchen environments.
• Supervisory experience leading a kitchen team.
• Working knowledge of HACCP and food safety regulations; ServSafe Manager certification (or ability to obtain it).
• Experience with inventory and purchasing systems such as MarketMan.
• Strong organization, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines with attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Experience in airline/private aviation catering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily/weekly production plans from orders and forecasts.
• Maintain standardized recipes, portioning, plating, and packaging quality.
• Prepare and pack aviation orders to client specs, including dietary needs.
• Enforce HACCP, temperature controls, allergen handling, and sanitation.
• Manage yield, waste, and portion control to keep labor plus food cost <=60% of revenue.
• Oversee purchasing and inventory in MarketMan and ensure accuracy.
• Direct production staff, allocate tasks by station, monitor labor efficiency.
• Hire, train, and develop production cooks and prep staff.
• Ensure safety and clean, organized kitchen; protect equipment.
• Coordinate with Executive Chefs, AGMs, and General Managers to align with delivery timelines.
• Report production, cost, quality, and safety results to VP Operations.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Time management

Staff supervision

Food safety

Communication

Education

ServSafe Manager certification

Tools

MarketMan

Job description

Description

Position Summary

The Production Chef leads the daily preparation of high quality food that meets Iacofanos Catering's standards for exceptional service, including private aviation dining. This role owns production planning, recipe consistency, food safety, and cost control, and reports directly to the Vice President of Operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Production planning: Build daily and weekly production plans from confirmed orders and forecasts, and make sure every order is prepared, packed, and ready on time.
• Quality and consistency: Maintain standardized recipes, portioning, plating, and packaging so food leaves the kitchen at the same high quality every time.
• Private aviation dining: Prepare and pack aviation orders to client specifications, including special requests and dietary and allergen needs.
• Food safety and HACCP: Follow and enforce HACCP procedures, temperature controls, allergen handling, and sanitation schedules, working with the AGM who owns the HACCP program.
• Food cost control: Manage yield, waste, and portion control to keep combined labor plus food cost at or below 60% of revenue.
• Purchasing and inventory: Manage ordering, receiving, and inventory in MarketMan, and keep entries accurate and on time.
• Labor and scheduling: Direct production staff, assign tasks by station, and help manage labor efficiency against the production schedule.
• Team leadership: Hire, train, and develop production cooks and prep staff, and document all training.
• Safety and facility: Enforce safe work practices with a goal of zero at-fault accidents or injuries, and protect equipment and maintain a clean, organized kitchen.
• Collaboration: Coordinate with the Executive Chefs, AGMs, and General Managers so production matches client needs and delivery timelines.
• Reporting: Report production, cost, quality, and safety results to the Vice President of Operations.

Measures of Success

• Food cost against target, and combined labor plus food cost at or below 60%
• Quality scores from clients, audits, or internal reviews
• On-time and accurate order production
• HACCP log completion, corrective actions closed, and inspection or audit scores
• Waste and inventory variance
• Zero at-fault accidents or injuries and zero repeat deviations

Requirements

Qualifications

• 5 or more years of culinary experience, including production, catering, or high-volume kitchen leadership
• Prior supervisory experience leading a kitchen team
• Working knowledge of HACCP and food safety regulations; ServSafe Manager certification (or ability to obtain it)
• Experience with inventory and purchasing systems such as MarketMan
• Strong organization, communication, and time management skills
• Ability to work under deadline pressure with consistent attention to detail
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays
• Experience in airline, private aviation, or high-end catering preferred

Physical Requirements

• Stand and work for extended periods in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds and move cases, pans, and equipment
• Work safely around heat, cold storage, knives, and kitchen equipment