Compass

Catering Chef

Compass • $85K — $95K *
Food & Beverages
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Culinary degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
  • 3-5 years of progressive culinary management experience.
  • Significant experience in catering, events, or hospitality leadership.
  • High-volume catering and complex event production experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of menu development, food cost, and labor management.
  • Expertise in food safety, sanitation, and allergen management.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and catering/event management systems.

Responsibilities

  • Lead culinary operations for catering and special events.
  • Ensure high standards for food quality, presentation, and hospitality.
  • Coach and develop catering culinary employees through training and feedback.
  • Develop creative catering menus balancing guest expectations and logistics.
  • Review event details to ensure operational readiness.
  • Manage multiple events and proactively resolve challenges.
  • Oversee food cost, purchasing, and inventory management.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Life and Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Paid Time Off and Holiday Time Off
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Identity Theft Protection and Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Paid Parental Leave and Personal Leave
Full Job Description
Position Title: Catering Chef-Palo Alto

Pay Grade: 14

Salary: 85000 - 95000 per year

Job Summary

The Catering Chef leads culinary operations for catering, special events, VIP functions, executive-level programs, and other catered experiences within Palo Alto Networks' high-volume, fast-paced corporate dining environment and reports to the Culinary Director.

This is a hands-on culinary leadership role responsible for catering execution, culinary quality, menu development, event production and logistics, team development, food safety and sanitation, purchasing, inventory, cost control, and consistent execution of Bon Appétit standards.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead all culinary aspects of catering, VIP events, executive functions, conferences, activations, and large-scale special events.
  • Maintain a hands-on leadership presence and ensure high standards for food quality, flavor, presentation, timing, consistency, and hospitality from the kitchen through the event site.
  • Lead, coach, and develop catering culinary employees through clear expectations, training, feedback, accountability, and opportunities for growth.
  • Develop catering menus and culinary experiences that balance creativity, guest expectations, labor, equipment, production capability, transportation, budget, and event logistics.
  • Review event details, menus, BEOs or event specifications, production schedules, staffing, equipment, and prep requirements to ensure operational readiness.
  • Manage multiple events and priorities while proactively resolving production, staffing, equipment, transportation, ingredient, or service challenges.
  • Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, waste, event expenditures, and product utilization while following approved Bon Appétit purchasing and sustainability standards.
  • Maintain and reinforce food-safety, sanitation, allergen, workplace-safety, and audit-readiness standards throughout production, transportation, setup, and event service.
  • Maintain a professional, responsive, and hospitality-focused presence when working with clients, executives, VIP guests, event planners, and internal stakeholders.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Culinary degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
  • Three to five years of progressive culinary-management experience.
  • Significant catering, events, banquet, or hospitality leadership experience.
  • High-volume catering and complex event-production experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of menu development, production planning, BEOs or event specifications, purchasing, inventory, food cost, and labor management.
  • Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, allergen management, culinary trends, quality, and presentation.
  • Corporate dining, hotel, conference center, convention, or large-scale catering experience preferred.
  • Strong computer and administrative skills using Microsoft Office, Outlook, email, and applicable catering or event-management systems.


Operational Expectations

  • Must be comfortable working in an active, high-volume catering and event environment with changing priorities and multiple simultaneous functions.
  • Must be prepared to work the hours necessary to successfully lead the operation and meet Bon Appétit management standards, business demands, and leadership responsibilities.
  • Schedule flexibility may be required based on event schedules, early-morning or evening functions, staffing, business volume, and operational needs.
  • Must be comfortable supporting events throughout a large, multi-kitchen campus environment.


Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit 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)
  • Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis
  • 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

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

About Compass

Compass is a real estate technology company that provides an online platform for buying, selling, and renting real estate properties. The company was founded in 2012 by Ori Allon and Robert Reffkin and is headquartered in New York City. Compass has raised over $1.5 billion in funding and has expanded to over 350 offices in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company's platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help real estate agents better serve their clients and streamline the buying and selling process. Compass has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing real estate companies in the world and has received numerous awards for its innovative technology and exceptional customer service.
Learn more about Compass
Size
19,000 employees
Market Cap
$910.4 million
Industry
Founded
1941
5 Year Trend
+102.9%
NASDAQ

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