Senior Chef Manager - Vermont Academy

Compass Group USA; Saxtons River (VT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

The Senior Chef Manager will lead culinary and dining operations at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT, serving ~237 students. You will oversee menu development, purchasing, inventory, budgeting, labor, and compliance, while mentoring a diverse team.

You will drive high-quality scratch cooking, sustainable sourcing, and exceptional guest experiences, including campus events and catering, partnering with school leadership to deliver nourishing meals and strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive culinary and food service management experience, preferably within school dining or high-volume operations.
• Senior Chef Manager/Executive Chef leadership experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, and contract-managed service environments.
• Proven expertise in menu development, production planning, purchasing, inventory management, and cost controls.
• Extensive knowledge of HACCP standards, food safety regulations, sanitation practices, and proper food storage procedures.
• Experience leading catering programs, events and high-profile client functions.
• Leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management skills.
• MS Office and POS systems proficiency.
• Excellent communication and client relationship management.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Professionalism, integrity and ethical conduct.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of culinary operations, including menu planning, food production, presentation, quality assurance and sanitation.
• Oversee daily front-and-back-of-house food service operations to ensure an exceptional dining experience.
• Manage purchasing, inventory control, receiving, vendor relationships, and product quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, food safety regulations and company policies.
• Collaborate on innovative, student-centered menus featuring seasonal, sustainable ingredients.
• Maintain full P&L accountability, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, food and labor cost controls.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, training and performance management.
• Oversee catering operations, events and campus functions with flawless execution.
• Partner with school leadership to strengthen client relationships and dining experience.

Skills

P&L management

Budgeting

Menu development

Purchasing

Inventory management

Food safety (HACCP)

Staff leadership

Catering programs

Vendor relationships

Contract-managed service

Food production

Sanitation

Microsoft Office

ServSafe certification

Education

Culinary degree

Tools

POS systems

Microsoft Excel

MS Office Suite

Job description

FISD

Salary:$90,000 - $100,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefits Package

Flik Independent School Dining has been leading the way in transforming private and independent school foodservice across 300 communities for over four decades. Our passionate team of associates is fully committed to delivering exceptional foodservice experiences every single time. Our meals are crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit our communities. But we don't stop at just foodservice – we take it to the next level by offering cutting-edge nutrition education programs that empower students to make smart, healthy choices daily. By combining nutritious meals with comprehensive education, we equip students with the essential tools they need to lead a healthy and thriving life. We believe in nourishing the whole person, creating community through great food and programming, and doing what's right, every time.

We are Nourishing a Brighter Future.

Job Summary

The Senior Chef Manager is responsible for leading both the culinary and food service operations at Vermont Academy, a distinguished coeducational boarding and day school in Saxtons River, Vermont, serving approximately 237 students in grades 9-12. This role ensures exceptional standards of food quality, safety, sustainability, and guest satisfaction while serving as the senior on-site culinary and operational leader. The position combines hand-on culinary leadership with comprehensive oversight of front-and-back-of-house operations, including menu development, purchasing, inventory management, financial performance, labor management, staff development, and regulatory compliance. The Senior Chef Manager is accountable for maintaining a high-quality dining program while driving operational excellence, mentoring a diverse team, and fostering strong client relationships within the school community. This position also provides leadership for catering operations, special events, and campus functions while serving as a key strategic partner to school administration. The ideal candidate is a skilled culinarian and accomplished operator with a passion for hospitality, scratch cooking, sustainability, and team development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of culinary operations, including menu planning, food production, presentation, quality assurance, and sanitation.
• Oversee daily front-and-back-of-house food service operations to ensure an exceptional dining experience.
• Manage purchasing, inventory control, receiving, vendor relationships, and product quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP standards, food safety regulations, health department requirements, and company policies.
• Collaborate with culinary and operational teams to develop innovative, student-centered menus featuring seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
• Maintain full P&L accountability, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, food cost management, and labor cost controls.
• Analyze operational and financial performance metrics and implement action plans to achieve business objectives.
• Lead all hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, training, succession planning, and performance management activities.
• Conduct employee meetings, training programs, performance evaluations, and career development planning.
• Mentor supervisors and frontline associates to build bench strength and support long-term talent development.
• Oversee catering operations, special events, and community functions, ensuring flawless execution and customer satisfaction.
• Partner with school leadership and key stakeholders to strengthen client relationships and enhance the dining experience.
• Lead administrative functions including payroll, invoicing, weekly reporting, month-end close processes, and compliance documentation.
• Ensure high standards of cleanliness, merchandising, signage, menu displays, and overall dining presentation.
• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, hospitality, and continuous improvement.
• Support regional and company initiatives, pilot programs, and operational best-practice implementation.
• Perform related duties and special projects as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive culinary and food service management experience, preferably within school dining, contract foodservice, hospitality, or other high-volume operations.
• Previous experience in a Senior Chef Manager, Executive Chef, Chef Manager, or comparable leadership role preferred.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, and contract-managed service environments.
• Proven expertise in menu development, production planning, purchasing, inventory management, and cost controls.
• Extensive knowledge of HACCP standards, food safety regulations, sanitation practices, and proper food storage procedures.
• Demonstrated success managing large teams and developing leaders within a food service operation.
• Experience leading catering programs, special events, and high-profile client functions.
• Knowledge of culinary trends, sustainability initiatives, and exhibition-style cooking in guest-facing environments.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and point-of-sale systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong client relationship management abilities.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Ability to lift, bend, and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct.

Associates at Flik Independent School Dining are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_FISD.pdf

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Flik Independent School Dining maintains a drug-free workplace.