Corporate Chef – Training & Standards (Hands-On, Multi-Kitchen)

Iacofano's Catering & Events • North Charleston, SC

6d • $90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Corporate Chef is a hands-on, multi-kitchen culinary role based at Iacofano's North Charleston, South Carolina headquarters kitchen, with travel to kitchens in Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Brook Park, Ohio. The position is full-time and salaried, reports to the VP of Operations, and is approximately 70% hands-on work in kitchens, including cooking, training, opening kitchens, and working events.

The chef owns recipes, portions, yields, equipment programs, menu development, culinary training and certification, and food safety standards across the kitchens. They coach kitchen chefs and sous chefs directly on the line, develop trainers, and ensure consistent food quality, presentation, packaging, reheating, and texture. They also support purchasing and food-cost control, conduct kitchen visits and audits, resolve quality issues, and help integrate new kitchens into company standards.

The role requires steady, respectful leadership under pressure and travel of 50% or more, including overnight stays, nights, weekends, and holidays around events and openings. The chef has authority over culinary standards and certification, may stop food that does not meet standards, and tests and interviews chef and sous chef candidates. General Managers retain responsibility for schedules, pay, attendance, and final hiring decisions; the VP of Operations resolves disagreements between the chef and a General Manager within 48 hours.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of experience as an executive, multi-unit, or high-volume production chef.
• A track record of training cooks who went on to become sous chefs or chefs.
• Current ServSafe Manager or equivalent food protection manager certificate.
• HACCP certification, or ability to earn it within 90 days.
• Experience with recipe costing, yield testing, and written standard recipes.
• Comfort with kitchen technology, including combi ovens, recipe and inventory software, and Paylocity.
• Ability to travel 50% or more, including overnight stays, nights, weekends, and holidays around events and openings.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel by air.
• Ability to stand and work in a production kitchen for a full shift and lift up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in aviation, catering, hotel banquet, or institutional production.

Responsibilities

• Own recipes, portions, yields, and equipment programs so every kitchen prepares dishes consistently.
• Lead menu development across company brands and test new items in a production kitchen before launch.
• Set and protect private-aviation standards for presentation, packaging, reheating, and texture.
• Work with purchasing on product specifications and order guides, and manage food costs through recipe costing and yield.
• Train and certify trainers in every kitchen.
• Own culinary training content and the skills required at each step of the cook and chef career ladder.
• Coach kitchen chefs and sous chefs side by side on the line.
• Own the food safety system across all kitchens, including HACCP plans, standard operating procedures, audits, and corrective actions.
• Keep kitchens inspection-ready and maintain allergen and labeling standards.
• Open new kitchens by setting up production lines, training teams, and staying until operations meet company standards.
• Work large events and key client tastings with the sales team.
• Bring newly joined kitchens onto company recipes and standards.
• Visit kitchens on announced and unannounced visits and score them against company standards.
• Review client feedback and quality trends with the Client Success team and address root causes.
• Test and interview chef and sous chef candidates, and contribute the culinary portion of each chef's review.
• Stop food that does not meet the required standard.
• Document fixes after addressing problems at their source.

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus tied to trainers certified, kitchen audit scores, and new-kitchen openings.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting the first of the month after 60 days.
• 401(k) with company match after 6 months.
• Paid time off from the first day of work.
• Company-paid travel.
• Skills review at 90 days.
• Published career and pay structure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed