Executive Chef

Executive Chef at Sodexo - Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Do you strive to create amazing culinary experiences? Sodexo’s Campus Segment is seeking an experienced Executive Chef 2 to lead the culinary program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. This high-profile campus account requires a dynamic culinary leader with strong operational expertise, a passion for innovation, and exceptional client-facing skills.

What You'll Do

• Manage daily food production for retail outlets and catered events, ensuring proper planning, execution, and quality control.
• Oversee retail and catering menu development, costing, and seasonal refreshes that balance creativity and operational efficiency.
• Ensure full compliance with Sodexo Culinary Standards, including recipe adherence, presentation, safety, and food quality.
• Monitor and manage food costing, financial controls, operational compliance, and adherence to departmental budgets.
• Lead ordering, receiving, and inventory management processes to support accurate forecasting and cost-effective purchasing.
• Build and maintain strong client and guest relationships through active engagement and open communication.
• Train, mentor, and develop front-line culinary staff to support skill growth, consistency, and a safe working environment.
• Partner with catering leadership to design, plan, and execute high-quality catered events.
• Ensure proper management of allergens, special diets, and food safety standards across operations.
• Utilize—or be willing to learn—the Sodexo Food Management System to support operational accuracy and compliance.

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 culinary leadership experience in a high-volume environment, preferably within campus dining or hospitality.
• Strong background in menu development, production systems, costing, and financial management.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with clients, students, and team members.
• A commitment to food quality, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Experience training and developing culinary teams with a focus on safety and consistency.
• Creativity, professionalism, and the ability to balance innovation with operational needs.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Working knowledge of—or the ability to learn—Sodexo systems, including the Food Management System.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum Management Experience - 2 Years
• Minimum Functional Experience - 2 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.

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.

Key skills/competency

• Culinary Leadership
• Menu Development
• Food Costing
• Inventory Management
• Team Training
• Client Relations
• Operational Excellence
• Food Safety
• Event Planning
• Sodexo Systems