Production Manager-Hampton University

Austin Grill LLC; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical benefits

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Career advancement

Culinary training

Employee meal program

Diverse workplace

Impact campus community

Job summary

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a Production Chef to lead daily food production on the Hampton University campus. You’ll ensure quality, consistency, and food safety while coordinating with the culinary leadership to serve thousands of students, faculty, staff, and guests daily.

The role emphasizes supervising cooks, managing batch production, and maintaining standards for portion control and inventory. A culinary degree or equivalent experience is preferred, with ServSafe certification desired.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of culinary experience in high-volume food service, higher education or healthcare.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of batch cooking, food production planning and kitchen operations.
• Experience with recipe adherence, portion control, and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily food production for residential dining, retail dining, and catered events.
• Oversee high-volume production with exceptional quality and presentation.
• Ensure recipes, portions, and production standards are followed.
• Coordinate production schedules to meet service demands and minimize waste.
• Supervise and develop cooks and food service staff.
• Maintain food safety and HACCP compliance throughout preparation and service.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, receiving, and product rotation.
• Support menu execution and campus events.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen environment.

Skills

Batch cooking

Inventory management

HACCP

Team leadership

Communication

Food safety

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

Are you a passionate culinary professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment? Thompson Hospitality is seeking a Production Chef to join our campus dining team at Hampton University. In this role, you will lead daily food production while ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, food safety, and guest satisfaction. You'll work alongside an experienced culinary team to prepare fresh, nutritious meals that serve thousands of students, faculty, staff, and guests each day.

If you enjoy creating outstanding food, mentoring team members, and making an impact in a collegiate environment, we'd love to meet you.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily food production for residential dining, retail dining, and catered events.
• Prepare and oversee high-volume production while maintaining exceptional food quality and presentation.
• Ensure recipes, portion sizes, and production standards are consistently followed.
• Coordinate production schedules to meet service demands and minimize waste.
• Supervise, coach, and develop cooks and food service associates.
• Monitor food quality throughout preparation, holding, and service.
• Maintain compliance with all health department regulations, HACCP standards, and food safety procedures.
• Assist with inventory management, ordering, receiving, and product rotation.
• Support menu execution, seasonal offerings, and special campus events.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary leadership to improve efficiencies and enhance the guest experience

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• 3–5 years of culinary experience in high-volume food service, higher education or healthcare.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of batch cooking, food production planning, and kitchen operations.
• Experience with recipe adherence, portion control, and inventory management.
• Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Culinary degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification preferred or ability to obtain after hire.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Work in hot, cold, and fast-paced kitchen environments.
• Flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and campus events as needed.

Why Join Thompson Hospitality?

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid time off and holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Career advancement opportunities
• Professional development and culinary training
• Employee meal program
• Diverse, inclusive, and collaborative workplace
• Opportunity to positively impact the campus community every day

About Thompson Hospitality

Thompson Hospitality is the nation's largest minority-owned food and facilities management company. For more than 30 years, we've partnered with colleges and universities to deliver exceptional dining experiences centered on Fresh Food, Great People, and Celebrating Diversity. Our teams are committed to culinary excellence, outstanding hospitality, and creating memorable experiences for every guest. High-volume campus dining operations commonly emphasize food production leadership, recipe consistency, staff supervision, inventory control, and rigorous food safety standards, all of which are reflected in this role.