Traveling Executive Chef: Campus Dining & Menu Innovation

Thompson-Hospitality; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a Traveling Executive Chef to lead culinary excellence across our Campus Dining portfolio and select Solo Ventures concepts. This high-impact role travels across accounts to launch new programs, support transitions, elevate culinary operations, develop menus, train teams and bring innovative dining concepts to life.

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, you’ll help drive our Food-First Focus by delivering quality, consistency and exceptional guest

Qualifications

• 5+ years as Executive Chef or senior culinary leader.
• Experience in higher education, contract food service, hospitality or multi-unit operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of menu development, recipe creation and high-volume production.
• Experience with residential dining, retail and catering concepts preferred.
• Understanding of food cost, labor management, purchasing, inventory and waste reduction.
• Proven ability to lead, train and develop culinary teams.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving and client-relations skills.
• Ability to collaborate across Operations, Marketing & Programs and other teams.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, OSHA and food-safety requirements.
• Culinary or hospitality degree preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• ServSafe Manager certification required or must be obtained within the designated employment period.

Responsibilities

• Provide culinary leadership for new account openings, mobilizations, campus transitions and concept launches.
• Partner with Marketing & Programs to execute residential dining, retail, catering and culinary concepts.
• Support menu development, recipe testing, kitchen readiness, equipment planning, sourcing and production systems.
• Lead tastings and train opening teams on recipes, presentation, production and culinary standards.
• Ensure culinary execution aligns with approved concepts, brand standards and the guest experience.
• Support culinary activations, presentations and special events as needed.

Skills

Executive Chef

Menu development

High-volume production

Team training

Food safety

Client relations

Communication

Education

Culinary degree

ServSafe Certification

Job description

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a Traveling Executive Chef to lead culinary excellence across our Campus Dining portfolio and select Solo Ventures concepts. This high-impact role travels across accounts to launch new programs, support transitions, elevate culinary operations, develop menus, train teams and bring innovative dining concepts to life.

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, you’ll help drive our Food-First Focus by delivering quality, consistency and exceptional guest