Culinary Director - Nvidia

Bon Appétit Management Company; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

FSAs

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

Bon Appetit is seeking a Senior Executive Chef to provide strategic culinary leadership across NVIDIA campus dining programs, including cafés, executive dining, catering, and special events.

You will inspire teams, manage relationships with clients and senior stakeholders, and lead new concept openings while delivering exceptional dining experiences and sustainable practices.

Qualifications

• Requires culinary degree or formal culinary training.
• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, or related field preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience across diverse kitchen environments.
• Extensive experience in high-volume food production with fine dining execution.
• Corporate dining experience required; luxury hotel or upscale hospitality leadership desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide culinary leadership for multiple dining venues, executive dining, catering, and events.
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus showcasing high-quality ingredients.
• Lead and mentor Executive and Sous Chefs and culinary teams.
• Build high-performing teams through coaching and succession planning.
• Oversee food production for quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Drive financial performance via food costing, purchasing, and inventory management.
• Partner with leaders and clients to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Food costing

Purchasing

Inventory management

Labor planning

Communication

Leadership

Sustainability

ServSafe Certification

Pre-opening projects

Education

Culinary degree

Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Foodservice management systems

Job description

Bon Appetit

Salary: $150,000 - $170,000 / year

Our Passion is Food! At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won’t find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting‑edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Short Description

As Senior Executive Chef, you will provide strategic culinary leadership for one of NVIDIA’s premier dining programs, overseeing multiple culinary operations with a strong emphasis on innovation, hospitality, and operational excellence. This role is ideal for an accomplished chef who thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment and is passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences across cafés, executive dining, catering, and special events.

This highly visible, hands‑on leadership role requires a chef who can inspire teams, build strong client relationships, and successfully lead both established operations and new concept openings as NVIDIA continues to expand its campus dining program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall culinary leadership for multiple dining venues, executive dining, catering, and special events
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus that showcase fresh, high‑quality ingredients while meeting diverse dietary, wellness, and sustainability initiatives
• Lead, mentor, and develop Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, and culinary teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and culinary excellence
• Build and elevate high‑performing teams through coaching, training, succession planning, and talent development
• Oversee all aspects of food production, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, presentation, and execution across all culinary operations
• Drive financial performance through effective food costing, purchasing, inventory management, labor planning, and waste reduction initiatives
• Partner closely with operational leaders and clients to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences and ensure seamless execution across cafés, executive dining, and catering
• Lead culinary planning and execution for new building openings and food concepts, including menu development, operational readiness, training, and launch support
• Champion sustainability initiatives, local sourcing, seasonality, and responsible purchasing practices
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, HACCP compliance, and workplace safety
• Analyze operational performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement best practices that enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction
• Serve as a visible, hands‑on leader, actively engaging in all areas of the operation to support the team and ensure execution at the highest level

Preferred Qualifications

• Culinary degree or formal culinary training preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, or a related field preferred
• 15+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience across diverse kitchen environments
• Extensive experience in high‑volume food production combined with fine dining culinary execution required
• Corporate dining experience required; luxury hotel or upscale hospitality food & beverage leadership experience is highly desirable
• Demonstrated success leading pre‑opening projects, including launching new facilities, dining venues, or food concepts
• Proven experience overseeing executive dining, retail dining, and large‑scale catering operations
• Strong expertise in menu development, food costing, purchasing, inventory management, labor planning, and financial performance
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills with a track record of building, mentoring, and inspiring high‑performing culinary teams
• Creative, innovative culinary approach with a willingness to remain exceptionally hands‑on in daily operations
• Experience partnering directly with clients and senior stakeholders is a plus
• Comprehensive knowledge of current culinary trends, global cuisines, wellness‑focused dining, sustainability, and premium hospitality standards
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and foodservice management systems
• ServSafe Certification

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished culinary leader to shape the future of dining at NVIDIA by delivering exceptional hospitality, developing world‑class culinary talent, and leading innovative food programs across a growing campus.

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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

Equal Opportunity

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.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Req ID: 1549137

Bon Appetit

Allison Murphy