Sr. Executive Chef

Morrison Healthcare; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Morrison Healthcare in Columbia, SC, seeks a Senior Executive Chef to lead culinary operations across retail dining, patient meals, catering, and events. You will oversee menu development, food production, purchasing, inventory, costs, sanitation, and team development.

This hands-on leadership role focuses on building strong teams, elevating culinary standards, and delivering exceptional guest experiences in a healthcare-focused setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive culinary or kitchen-management experience.
• Experience in healthcare, hotels, resorts, restaurants, corporate dining, higher education, catering, or another high-volume foodservice environment.
• Culinary degree or bachelor's degree in foodservice management or a related field is preferred.
• ServSafe certification required.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations across retail dining, patient dining, catering, and special events.
• Develop creative, on-trend menus with a focus on quality, seasonality, wellness, and presentation.
• Establish and maintain high culinary and food-safety standards.
• Recruit, train, coach, and inspire the culinary team.
• Build a positive, accountable, and hospitality-driven kitchen culture.
• Manage purchasing, inventory, production, food costs, and waste.
• Plan and execute catering events from concept through service.
• Monitor operational performance and lead continuous improvements.
• Partner with leadership and other departments to improve the overall dining experience.
• Engage with customers and ensure the culinary team can confidently explain daily menus and ingredients.
• Support sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team development

Menu development

Food safety

Purchasing & inventory

Catering events

Cost controls

Communication

Education

Culinary degree or related degree

ServSafe certification

Job description

Bring your culinary leadership to a role where you can make an impact, develop a talented team, and put your own stamp on a growing operation.

We are seeking a creative and experienced Senior Executive Chef to lead culinary operations in Columbia, SC. This is an exciting opportunity for a chef with a background in healthcare, hotels, resorts, restaurants, corporate dining, higher education, catering, or other high-volume hospitality environments.

Healthcare experience is not required. We're looking for a strong culinary leader who understands quality, consistency, cost controls, team development, and the guest experience.

JOB SUMMARY:

As the Senior Executive Chef, you will lead culinary operations across retail dining, patient and resident meals, catering, and special events. You'll oversee menu development, food production, purchasing, inventory, food costs, sanitation, and culinary team development.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys building teams, raising culinary standards, introducing fresh ideas, and creating food that people are excited to experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Lead culinary operations across retail, patient dining, catering, and special events
• Develop creative, on-trend menus with a focus on quality, seasonality, wellness, and presentation
• Establish and maintain high culinary and food-safety standards
• Recruit, train, coach, and inspire the culinary team
• Build a positive, accountable, and hospitality-driven kitchen culture
• Manage purchasing, inventory, production, food costs, and waste
• Plan and execute catering events from concept through service
• Monitor operational performance and lead continuous improvements
• Partner with leadership and other departments to improve the overall dining experience
• Engage with customers and ensure the culinary team can confidently explain daily menus and ingredients
• Support sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• 5+ years of progressive culinary or kitchen-management experience
• Experience in healthcare, hotels, resorts, restaurants, corporate dining, higher education, catering, or another high-volume foodservice environment
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to develop and motivate teams
• Experience with menu development, purchasing, inventory, production, and food-cost controls
• Experience planning and executing catering events
• Strong knowledge of culinary trends, sanitation, quality, and presentation
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, leadership, customers, and associates
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, email, and other business technology
• Culinary degree or bachelor's degree in foodservice management or a related field is preferred
• ServSafe certification required

WHY JOIN US?

This is more than a kitchen-management position. It's an opportunity to lead a major culinary operation in Columbia, influence the entire dining experience, and build your career with an industry-leading organization.