Job Description

Executive Chef Opportunity: Lead Resident Dining Operations at a Premier University Campus

Sodexo's Campus Segment is seeking a dynamic and innovative Executive Chef 3 to lead culinary operations at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. This high-profile leadership role oversees resident dining operations, including two dining commons and support for retail dining operations across campus.

This position is ideal for an experienced Executive Chef who combines strong culinary leadership with financial acumen, operational excellence, and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

What You'll Do

• Lead all culinary operations for resident dining, including menu development, production, quality assurance, and presentation.
• Manage food and labor budgets, food cost controls, inventory management, and forecasting.
• Standardize and implement Sodexo culinary systems, procedures, and best practices across dining operations.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and physical safety standards.
• Conduct and maintain Gold Check audits, implement corrective action plans, and ensure audit readiness.
• Oversee Food Management System (FMS) implementation, monitoring, auditing, and menu standardization.
• Partner with procurement teams and vendors to manage purchasing processes and financial controls.
• Develop innovative dining concepts, limited-time offers (LTOs), and retail menu enhancements that drive student engagement.
• Collaborate with campus leadership and clients to deliver exceptional dining experiences and maintain strong relationships.
• Support and improve catering and banquet services by creating customized menus and ensuring flawless execution.
• Lead, coach, train, and develop culinary and hourly staff to achieve operational excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or senior culinary leader in higher education, hospitality, healthcare, or large-volume food service environments.
• Strong financial management skills with experience managing food costs, labor budgets, purchasing, and inventory controls.
• Demonstrated success leading high-volume resident dining, retail, or multi-unit food service operations.
• Extensive knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP, sanitation standards, and audit compliance.
• Experience implementing standardized culinary systems, production processes, and quality assurance programs.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of developing and mentoring culinary teams.
• Excellent client-facing communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Creativity and passion for menu innovation, student engagement, and culinary excellence.
• Experience with catering, banquet operations, and special events is preferred.
• Familiarity with Sodexo systems and programs is a plus.

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experienceMinimum Management Experience - 5 yearsMinimum Functional Experience - 3 years