Regional Deployment Chef - Sodexo

Unit Description

Are you looking for a highly visible, challenging opportunity, in a fast-paced rewarding environment?

Sodexo is seeking a Senior Manager level culinarian for our Regional Deployment Chef position for our Airport Lounge Business Segment. This position is virtual and will office from your home office with the preferred candidate residing on the West Coast in one of the following cities, Denver, San Fransisco, Los Angeles! There is up to 80% travel.

The Regional Deployment Chef will lead the installation of the Culinary Planning Process and the Culinary Communications Process for the assigned accounts across the division.

The Regional Deployment Chef takes ownership of the evolving, dynamic, and innovative lounge program's success.  The chef provides high level culinary expertise, creativity, and project support to the culinary department, managing, implementing and supporting all food related programs across the sector. The RDC sets the standards for BOH operating systems and QA standards, culinary training and operational excellence across the lounges. This role is a leader of the culinary and teams while on site.

The Regional Deployment Chef will focus on culinary excellence, innovation, and the experience to support operational excellence. This position reports into the Culinary Director and will leverage their strong culinary and operational skills to partner with key stakeholders (culinary, marketing, concept development, innovation, procurement, risk management, operations, and human resources) to promote Sodexo standards, expectations and enhance user (partner) experience.

The great things you will be expected to do:

• Drives culinary innovation, excellence and quality standards
• Coaches to meet expectations of hospitality that is friendly and engaging
• Manages and mentors toward business goals, ensuring maturation and training of our team
• Ensures that all products and ingredients that are used are purchased following sector and purchasing standards and sustainability commitments.
• Collaborates with sector culinary team to maintain recipe and menu electronic database, including scaling to appropriate volumes 
• Partner with Food Safety and Workplace Safety managers to train and develop the safety programs
• Works with direct Manager to ensure all sector and Sodexo employee guidelines are implemented and adhered to
• Treats everyone with professionalism, care and respect
• Communicates with our Partners honestly, accurately and in a timely manner
• Visit accounts to follow-up and support, tracking/measuring account results.
•  Train to reinforce new management behaviors, and monitoring procurement compliance.
• Provide technical and/or management support and expertise within the defined scope of culinary program.
• Utilize company and approved industry techniques and processes to determine program changes and recommendations for innovation and upgrades.

Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who:

• Possess a strong culinary background.
• Have a work history demonstrating strong leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively with all levels of the organization.
• Be able to manage multiple priorities, demonstrate professional communication skills, and show a passion for high customer service.
• Possess the ability to manage multiple priorities, demonstrate professional communication skills, and exhibit a passion for a high level of customer service.
• Have previous experience successfully starting up new business/ accounts.
•  Previous training experience
•  Degree from an accredited Culinary Institute preferred but not required. Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 10-15 years of executive-level culinary management experience required
• Minimum 6 years culinary management experience in a multi-unit setting required
•  A proven track record as an innovative and financially responsible manager
• Prior experience managing volume of at least $5M with P&L experience
•  Multi-unit restaurant or hotel experience a must
• Experience in R/D, operations, or concept development a plus
• A proven track record of leadership
• Expert knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls and presentation
• Proven coaching and teaching skills with peers, individuals, and teams
• Passion for food trends, flavors, innovation and recipe development
• Highly developed culinary creativity skills and comfort with multiple cuisines
•  Proven industry contacts and relationships that can be leveraged in networking and recruitment of other culinary team members
• Proven ability to maximize budget, enhance sustainability and creativity across all channels in alignment with business strategy
• Ability to effectively communicate, motivate and interact with all levels within the organization
• Ability to speak and present effectively in a group setting to Associates, Managers and our Partners and represent the Sodexo Live Brand
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365
• Ability to work in a fast paced, changing environment

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.

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Basic Management Experience - 5 years   

Basic Functional Experience - 3 years of experience in operationsSodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.