Customer Dedicated Executive Chef

gategroup•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Customer Dedicated Executive Chef is responsible for developing new menus and culinary concepts for a strategic airline partner across global locations and a range of cuisines, in line with the airline’s brand values and identity. Menu development must account for approved suppliers, budgets, dietary requirements, and operational needs. The role shares responsibility for kitchen operations related to the customer, supports training across multiple units, and helps ensure consistent culinary standards and operational execution. The chef serves as a culinary expert and trusted customer contact, coordinating with airline and Gate Gourmet culinary teams to translate customer expectations into recipes, specifications, and production-ready menus. The position also supports quality improvement, account management, tenders, customer presentations, and events. It has global geographic responsibility and requires up to 60% domestic and international travel. The role is full-time and exempt, with an annual hiring range of $145,000–$150,000 and eligibility for incentive pay of 20% of annual base salary, dependent on achieving company, team, and individual goals.

Requirements

Apprenticeship, AOS or compatible degree in Culinary Arts; and/or a bachelor’s degree in Business and/or Hospitality; a catering diploma, City and Guilds qualification, or another appropriate qualification.
Four years of menu-development and operational experience.
Previous menu-development responsibility in a fine-dining environment.
Sound knowledge and experience of Asian and modern European cuisines, global styles, and fusion cooking.
Working knowledge and experience of HACCP standards or equivalent.
Experience presenting to clients or customers and building and maintaining appropriate relationships.
Strong culinary background and understanding of large-scale production and assembly.
Understanding of hospitality, service, and the customer experience.
Ability to present a culinary vision using all five senses.
Project-management skills; diverse and multicultural interpersonal skills; and an independent, proactive leadership style.
Process-oriented and results-driven approach.
Knowledge of current culinary trends, food-production techniques, and the culinary world, including trends, organizations, and personnel.
Passion for food and teaching culinary techniques.
Awareness of superfood and functional-food principles, caloric intake, basic dietary requirements, and religious meal requirements, including Halal, Kosher, and Hindu meals.
Relationship and strategic account-management skills.
Ability to manage the movement and schedules of colleagues and customers globally.
Ability to speak publicly and represent Gate Gourmet confidently and professionally.
Proficient culinary knowledge of terms, procedures, and practices, with the ability to teach techniques.
Excellent customer interaction and presentation skills, with the ability to teach these techniques.
Good interoffice skills and a pleasant, professional office demeanor.
Patience and mentor-like abilities.
English language skills.
Ability to regularly stand, bend, lift, and move intermittently during work schedules of 10 or more hours.
Ability to work in a production kitchen with varying temperature and noise levels and to lift, push, pull, and move products, equipment, and supplies in excess of 25 pounds.
Occasional weekend and holiday work.

Nice To Haves

Three to five years of experience within in-flight catering preferred.
Additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and refresh menus and culinary concepts globally in line with the airline’s culinary style, brand identity, budget, dietary needs, and operational requirements.
Ensure Gate Gourmet can deliver menu development and production services that reflect the airline’s signature culinary style and passenger experience.
Advise the customer on food philosophies and standards and ensure Gate Gourmet can consistently meet those standards.
Build relationships with Regional Executive Chefs and Airline Unit Chefs to communicate expectations and deliverables.
Identify raw-material requirements and secure suitable suppliers, including suppliers outside Gate Gourmet’s approved supplier list when needed.
Coordinate menu requirements with Customer Lead Executive Chefs and Regional Executive Chefs to ensure menus integrate into production and are executable in-flight.
Serve as a trusted customer contact for menus, food, and kitchen service requirements.
Work with the Total Cost Management organization and ensure new specifications, recipes, and photos are documented for pricing analysis.
Monitor customer feedback and ensure corrective actions are taken promptly.
Measure success against mutually agreed KPIs, including margin, customer satisfaction, quality, and recipe management.
Travel to designated units and fly specified routes to learn, inspect, audit, train, and recommend improvements.
Prepare culinary elements of customer tender presentations, including food presentation, messaging, ingredients, and local kitchen appearance.
Participate in the account management team to help win, retain, and grow business.
Participate in Gate Gourmet’s global dedicated S.P.I.C.E. program.
Promote shared responsibility for customer satisfaction between local kitchens and the dedicated chef team.
Maintain skill and service standards among customer-dedicated production chefs and support dotted-line reports at key locations.
Prepare menu and food reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing food, dining, and customer-trend data.
Represent the customer and Gate Gourmet at media events, special affairs, inaugural events, food fairs, exhibitions, and seminars as requested.
Act as an ambassador for gategroup.
Support training in culinary techniques and customer interaction and presentation skills.

Benefits

Paid time off
401(k) with company match
Company-sponsored life insurance
Medical, dental, and vision plans
Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
Employee Assistance Program
Commuter benefits
Employee discounts
Incentive pay of 20% of annual base salary, dependent upon successful attainment of company, team, and individual goals