Executive Chef

Position Summary

The Executive Chef provides culinary leadership for Team Housing Solutions' food service operations. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining exceptional culinary standards, ensuring operational excellence, leading multi-site kitchen teams, and delivering safe, high-quality dining experiences across military operations.

The Executive Chef serves as both a strategic and operational leader, responsible for culinary innovation, food quality, regulatory compliance, training, and continuous improvement. This role partners closely with Operations, Procurement, and Human Resources, to ensure food service operations consistently exceed client expectations while maintaining financial discipline and regulatory compliance.

Travel is expected as the Executive Chef provides leadership and oversight across multiple operating locations.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Food Quality

• Establish and maintain enterprise culinary standards across all operating locations.
• Plan, develop, and update menus based on customer preferences, nutrition standards, and budget requirements.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, taste, presentation, and customer experience across multiple facilities.
• Oversee the process of food preparation and presentation to ensure quality and consistency.
• Monitor portion control, food waste, and kitchen efficiency.
• Maintain high standards for food freshness, preparation techniques, and presentation.

Operational Leadership

• Provide culinary oversight for multiple kitchens and dining facilities.
• Drive consistency through standardized operating procedures and culinary processes.
• Monitor key performance indicators including:
  • Food quality
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Meal production
  • Labor efficiency
  • Food cost
  • Waste reduction
• Develop action plans to improve operational performance and resolve service deficiencies.
• Support new site mobilizations, operational expansions, and emergency response deployments.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for kitchen.
• Coordinate meal service schedules and special events/catering functions.

Client Experience

• Partner with Operations, GM, Food Service Managers, and subcontractors to deliver exceptional dining experiences.
• Respond quickly to client concerns and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Support customer presentations, proposal development, and business development initiatives when culinary expertise is required.
• Serve as a culinary ambassador for Team Housing Solutions during client visits and executive meetings.

Food Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local food safety regulations.
• Maintain compliance with applicable USDA, FDA, DoD, OSHA, ServSafe, HACCP, ACA, and client-specific requirements.
• Lead food safety audits, inspections, and corrective action programs.
• Develop and enforce sanitation, allergen management, and food handling standards.
• Ensure documentation is accurate, audit-ready, and maintained in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in large-scale food service operations (military, education, corrections, healthcare, or equivalent).
• Ability to travel up to 50% globally (but primarily in Texas).
• Proven track record in managing multi-site operations.
• Strong knowledge of institutional food service regulations, procurement, and compliance requirements.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Culinary certification (CEC or equivalent) preferred.