Executive Chef

Executive Chef | Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor, MI

Be Creative… with Creative Dining Services!

Are you a passionate culinary leader who thrives on variety, creativity, and developing others? Do you enjoy exploring global flavors, crafting innovative vegan and vegetarian cuisine, accommodating diverse dietary needs, and creating memorable dining experiences for every guest?

Creative Dining Services is seeking an Executive Chef to lead the dining program at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is a unique opportunity focused on catered events from conference services to banquet presentations and elegant plated dining experiences. No two days are the same, and that's exactly what makes this role exciting.

We're looking for a hands-on, working chef who will be cooking, tasting, teaching, coaching, and inspiring your team while ensuring exceptional quality, execution, and hospitality. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who brings strong organizational skills, operational discipline, and the ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment while building a positive, high-performing team culture.

If you have experience with culinary operations, ordering and inventory systems, conference and catering services, and a genuine passion for great food and developing people, we'd love to meet you!

What You’ll Do

As our Executive Chef, you will lead the culinary operation while maintaining the highest standards of food quality, presentation, safety, nutrition, and financial performance.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead & Inspire: Hire, train, schedule, coach, and develop culinary team members while building a positive, high-performing kitchen culture.
• Create Exceptional Food: Oversee daily culinary production and ensure menus, recipes, and presentations consistently exceed expectations.
• Drive Culinary Innovation: Develop menus and recipes that showcase diverse cuisines while meeting vegan, vegetarian, allergen, and dietary accommodation needs.
• Execute Memorable Events: Lead culinary execution for campus dining, conference services, catering functions, buffet events, and formal plated meals.
• Manage the Business: Oversee purchasing, inventory, food cost controls, and kitchen financial performance in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Set the Standard: Establish and maintain food quality, production, sanitation, and safety standards throughout the operation.
• Collaborate Across Campus: Partner with dining leadership, campus stakeholders, students, and guests to continually enhance the dining experience.
• Develop Your Team: Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and growth opportunities that help team members succeed professionally.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a culinary professional who combines strong technical skills with great leadership and a passion for hospitality.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Culinary Arts degree preferred
• 5 years of professional culinary experience preferred 
• Previous culinary management experience preferred
• ServSafe certification
• Experience with high-volume foodservice, catering, conference dining, and special events
• Experience creating and executing diverse menus, including global cuisine, vegan and vegetarian offerings, and accommodations for dietary restrictions and food allergies
• Experience with menu development, recipe standardization, and cost management
• Proficiency with inventory, purchasing, and foodservice ordering systems
• Higher education or college/university dining experience preferred
• American Culinary Federation membership preferred
• A passion for developing people and creating exceptional dining experiences

Why You’ll Love Working at Creative Dining Services

At Creative Dining Services, we believe great hospitality starts with taking care of our people.

That’s why we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support you both at work and at home.

Our Benefits Include:

• Daily Pay Options
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off
• Bonus Opportunities
• Training & Professional Development
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Support & Wellness Benefits
• And much, much more!

Creative Dining Services is different because we believe hospitality should be personal, innovative, and fun.

We partner with colleges and universities, Fortune 100 companies, senior living communities, conference centers, K-12 schools, and camps to create dining and hospitality experiences that bring people together.

When you join Creative Dining Services, you’re joining a team that values creativity, collaboration, leadership, and community.

At Washtenaw Community College, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day through the food you create, the team you lead, and the experiences you deliver.

Ready to Bring Your Culinary Creativity to the Washtenaw community?

If you’re ready to lead a talented culinary team, create outstanding food, and make an impact in a vibrant university community, apply today!

Be Creative. Be a Leader. Be Part of Creative Dining Services.

Creative Dining Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.