EXECUTIVE CHEF, SYSTEM SUPPORT

Compass Group•Oak Lawn, IL

11d•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Morrison Healthcare, a Compass Healthcare company, is a leader in healthcare food and nutrition services, serving over 1,000 hospitals and healthcare systems nationwide. With over 31,000 associates, Morrison focuses on creating personalized dining experiences to advance healing and health. The company has a long history of serving major health systems and leverages culinary, nutritional, and operational expertise. Morrison has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work" and a "Top Training Organization." As a System Support Executive Chef, you will provide flexible culinary leadership across a 9-hospital acute care network in the Chicagoland area. Your role will involve stepping into Executive Chef positions as needed to ensure operational continuity, high food quality, regulatory compliance, and excellent patient and retail dining experiences. This position is suited for an adaptable culinary leader who excels in dynamic settings and enjoys supporting multiple healthcare facilities. Bench leaders are crucial for stabilizing operations, supporting leadership transitions, developing culinary teams, and maintaining consistency across patient dining, retail, catering, and physician dining programs. They contribute to improving food quality, food safety, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.

Requirements

Associate degree with one (1) year of culinary or foodservice experience, or bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Foodservice Management, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
Minimum of three (3) years of progressive foodservice leadership experience, preferably in healthcare, hospitality, or contract foodservice.
Strong knowledge of food production, menu planning, food safety regulations, and culinary operations.
Experience managing food and labor budgets, inventory controls, purchasing programs, and productivity initiatives.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and foodservice management systems.
Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and customer service skills.
Ability to travel and support accounts throughout the Chicagoland area daily, with the ability to travel nationally if needed.
Ability to quickly adapt to new environments, build strong relationships, and lead teams through change and transition.

Nice To Haves

Previous Executive Chef, Sous Chef, or Culinary Manager experience preferred.
Healthcare foodservice experience strongly preferred.
ServSafe® Manager Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide culinary and operational leadership across multiple acute care hospitals based on system and facility needs.
Assess kitchen operations and implement best practices to improve food quality, efficiency, service execution, and associate engagement.
Hire, train, coach, and develop culinary team members, including cooks, sous chefs, and supervisors.
Ensure consistent execution of menus, recipes, production standards, and presentation guidelines.
Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and workplace safety regulations.
Partner with Clinical Nutrition, Patient Services, and Nursing teams to support patient dining programs and nutrition standards.
Monitor food and labor costs, inventory controls, purchasing practices, and waste reduction initiatives.
Support department training programs, culinary development, and associate engagement efforts.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives, operational reviews, inspections, and audits.
Support retail dining, physician lounges, catering services, and special events as needed.
Serve as an operational resource during leadership vacancies, program implementations, facility openings, audits, renovations, and periods of increased demand.
Foster a culture of safety, hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement.