The University of Arizona

Executive Chef III

The University of Arizona$75K — $98K *
Food & Beverages
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning required.
  • 7 years of related work experience, including 3 years in a managerial role.
  • Expert level knowledge of food and beverage preparation and presentation.
  • Advanced knowledge of kosher cooking and allergen protocols.
  • Experience with large production kitchen equipment.

Responsibilities

  • Direct daily operations of the kosher kitchen and oversee culinary services.
  • Develop and implement operational plans for kosher dining across campus.
  • Review staffing models and allocate resources to meet goals.
  • Establish and maintain procedures for kosher food production and service.
  • Manage departmental budgets and controllable expenses.
  • Support marketing and operational strategies for kosher offerings.
  • Lead development of kosher menus and culinary standards.

Benefits

  • Full benefits package available to employees.
  • Collaborative and innovative work environment.
  • Opportunities for professional development and team mentorship.
  • No visa sponsorship available for this position.
Full Job Description
Executive Chef III

Posting Number
req26278

Department
Arizona Student Unions

Department Website Link
Student Unions

Location
Tucson Campus

Address
Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The Executive Chef III leads and manages culinary Kosher operations to ensure efficient service delivery, high food quality standards, regulatory compliance, and exceptional guest experiences. This role is responsible for workforce leadership, operational planning, fiscal management, menu oversight, and maintaining effective food production and service practices. The Executive Chef III develops and mentors teams while creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and customer service excellence. They partner in strategic planning and operational initiatives to achieve division and University goals.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities

Kosher Culinary Operations & Program Management
  • Direct daily operations of the kosher kitchen and oversee execution of culinary services.
  • Develop and implement operational plans to establish and expand kosher dining offerings across campus.
  • Review staffing models and allocate labor resources to meet service, operational, and financial goals.
  • Develop and maintain operating procedures for kosher food production, service, receiving, and storage.
  • Participate in development and administration of departmental budgets and financial plans.
  • Manage controllable expenses including food cost, supplies, uniforms, and equipment.
  • Support development of marketing and operational strategies to increase awareness and utilization of kosher offerings.

Kosher Compliance, Food Safety & Quality Assurance
  • Partner with the Mashgiach to ensure all kitchen operations, purchasing, production, and service comply with kosher requirements.
  • Establish and maintain standards for kosher food handling, preparation, storage, and service.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety, sanitation, health, and religious standards.
  • Monitor food quality, presentation, consistency, and production methods to ensure established standards are achieved.
  • Ensure proper receiving, storage, labeling, temperature control, and inventory practices.
  • Maintain employee compliance with required food safety and sanitation certifications.
  • Develop and implement purchasing and receiving controls that support operational efficiency and kosher integrity.

Culinary Development & Campus Expansion
  • Lead development of kosher menus, recipes, production methods, and culinary standards.
  • Design and implement scalable culinary processes to support expansion of kosher products and services across campus locations.
  • Evaluate and introduce new products, cooking techniques, and equipment to improve quality and operational effectiveness.
  • Establish standards for food presentation and guest experience across kosher dining operations.
  • Prepare and oversee production for special events, catering, and campus initiatives as needed.

Talent Development & Workforce Management
  • Supervise kitchen leadership and culinary staff and oversee daily workforce management.
  • Establish performance expectations and monitor operational and individual performance outcomes.
  • Train and develop staff on kosher production requirements, culinary standards, food safety practices, and equipment usage.
  • Ensure policies and operational procedures are applied consistently across the department.
  • Identify staffing needs and support recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and workforce planning activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Expert level knowledge of food and beverage preparation and presentation.
  • Advanced knowledge of kosher cooking and allergen protocols.
  • Knowledge of large production kitchen equipment.
  • Ability to work in a fast paced and stressful environment.
  • Ability to multitask and delegate when needed.


This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
  • 7 years of related work experience, including 3 years of managerial experience and Kosher operational experience.


Preferred Qualifications

FLSA
Exempt

Full Time/Part Time
Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week
40

Job FTE
1.0

Work Calendar
Fiscal

Job Category
Culinary

Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay
$75,540 - $98,201

Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade
10

Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.

Career Stream and Level
M3

Job Family
Production and Kitchen Operations

Job Function
Culinary

Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies
1

Target Hire Date
7/20/2026

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates
[email protected]

Open Date
6/16/2026

Open Until Filled
Yes

Documents Needed to Apply
Resume and Cover Letter

Special Instructions to Applicant

Finalist will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references, with at least one of the references being from a supervisor.

About The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a public research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885, the UA was the first university in the Arizona Territory. As of 2021, the university enrolls 45,918 students in 19 separate colleges/schools, including the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix and the James E. Rogers College of Law, and is affiliated with two academic medical centers (Banner - University Medical Center Tucson and Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix). The University of Arizona is one of the elected members of the Association of American Universities (an organization of North America's premier research institutions) and is the only representative from the state of Arizona to this group. UA athletes have won national titles in several sports, most notably men's basketball, baseball, and softball. The official colors of the university and its athletic teams are cardinal red and navy blue.
Learn more about The University of Arizona
Size
15,000 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at The University of Arizona

More Food & Beverages Jobs

Find similar Executive Chef III jobs: