Senior Area Executive Chef

Sodexo•Washington, DC

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Sodexo Campus Services is seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Area Executive Chef to support accounts within our segment, primarily across the Mid-Atlantic region, and will support other accounts across the U.S. as needed. As the Area Executive Chef, you will oversee culinary operations across multiple university campuses, driving innovation, consistency, and excellence in resident dining, retail, and catering. You will work with both the salaried management team and hourly staff on Sodexo's culinary foundations program and have a visible presence on the accounts you visit. Under your leadership, you will elevate the dining experience across campus by implementing current trends, supporting menu development, leading culinary training, and ensuring adherence to Sodexo’s culinary and safety standards. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong culinary expertise, high-volume experience, and a commitment to operational excellence and financial success. This position involves regular regional travel, approximately 75%, to multiple sites and locations primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region, with additional travel across the U.S. as needed. The ideal candidate will reside in the Mid-Atlantic area. Candidates should be prepared to spend time on the road visiting various facilities to ensure consistent support and collaboration across the region.

Requirements

Proven experience as a Senior Level Executive Chef or culinary leader, preferably within a Campus environment
Multi-site or system-level culinary oversight experience preferred
Strong understanding of residential, retail, and catering dining standards
Demonstrated expertise in HACCP, regulatory compliance, and food safety standards
Experience managing food cost controls, production systems, and inventory oversight
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Ability to analyze performance data and implement strategic improvements
Passion for delivering consistent, high-quality resident dining experiences
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum 5 years of Management Experience
Minimum 3 years of Functional Experience

Nice To Haves

Multi-site or system-level culinary oversight experience

Responsibilities

Lead culinary operations across approximately 30 higher education campuses, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic market.
Partner with District and Unit Executive Chefs to drive operational excellence and performance
Ensure compliance with Sodexo culinary standards, recipe execution, and branded concepts
Standardize food quality, presentation, and resident meal experience
Support menu development, recipe rollouts, and culinary innovation initiatives
Monitor food cost performance, production forecasting, and inventory practices
Ensure strict compliance with HACCP, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards
Collaborate with Client and Sodexo leadership to align culinary operations with client goals
Utilize food management systems to monitor performance and drive efficiencies
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement best practices
Support hiring, onboarding, and development of culinary talent across the enterprise.