Corporate Executive Chef

Rochester, NY, USA|Travel, Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $80,000.00 - $100,000.00

Work Schedule

Flexible

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

401k Retirement Plan

Profit-sharing bonus

employee discount

Job Description

Palmer Food Services is a well-established company known for its commitment to competitive wages and a generous benefit package that significantly contributes to the overall compensation and personal well-being of its employees. The company prides itself on offering opportunities for professional growth and advancement through outstanding performance, aligning with its mission, vision, and core values. Palmer Food Services emphasizes that its associates are its greatest asset and unfair advantage, appreciating the diverse and talented team members who help drive its success.

Palmer Food Services operates as a reputable foodservice provider with a focus on culinary excellence and customer satisfaction. This organization values honesty, integrity, service excellence, collaboration, teamwork, family, community, dependability, loyalty, and compassion, creating a supportive work environment where employees are encouraged to excel. These foundational values reflect the company’s dedication to both its internal team and the external clients it serves.

The role of Corporate Executive Chef at Palmer Food Services is a dynamic and multifaceted position designed for an experienced culinary professional. This leadership role entails being a vital culinary resource supporting street sales representatives during account calls to help advance new business and upsell products. The Corporate Executive Chef will conduct culinary demonstrations, product tastings, and concept presentations aimed at attracting potential customers and showcasing the tangible benefits of the company’s products in menus and profitability.

In addition to customer-facing responsibilities, the Corporate Executive Chef will collaborate closely with the Business Development Manager to identify strategic accounts and craft culinary-driven strategies for successful business conversion. This role includes managing the day-to-day operations of Palmer’s two fully-equipped culinary centers located in Rochester and Buffalo, ensuring compliance with sanitation and food safety standards, overseeing equipment maintenance, product rotation, inventory management, and facility presentation.

Further responsibilities include performing comprehensive menu engineering, conducting on-site culinary consultations with restaurant clients to improve menu performance and profitability, and planning and executing customer-facing events such as product demonstrations, mini food shows, and culinary education sessions. The Corporate Executive Chef also serves as the company’s primary culinary subject matter expert, maintains up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, and contributes to marketing efforts through the creation of digital content and culinary sales materials.

This role demands a highly organized individual who can balance self-directed scheduling with teamwork and alignment with broader business development goals. The Corporate Executive Chef will also represent Palmer Food Services at trade shows, conventions, and company-sponsored events, helping to elevate the company’s culinary profile within the industry. The salary range for this full-time position is between $80,000 and $100,000 per year, reflecting the level of expertise and responsibility required.

Physical demands of the role include prolonged periods on feet in kitchen and culinary settings, the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, regular travel within the company’s service territory, and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. Palmer Food Services supports its employees with extensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, a 401k retirement plan with employer matching, profit-sharing bonuses, employee discounts, and appreciation events. This role is an excellent opportunity for a culinary leader who is passionate about food, customer service, and contributing to the continued growth and success of a respected foodservice company.

Job Requirements

High school diploma required
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, business, marketing, or a related field preferred
Minimum of 5 years of experience as an executive chef or head chef required
Valid drivers license
2+ years of experience in food service sales or a sales-facing culinary role preferred
Demonstrated experience in menu engineering, food costing, and back-of-house operations required
ServSafe certification preferred (must remain current if held)
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present confidently to customers, prospects, and internal stakeholders
Proficiency in microsoft office suite
Familiarity with social media platforms and basic video editing tools preferred
Ability to manage a self-directed schedule while maintaining consistent alignment with business development manager and DSM priorities

Job Qualifications

High school diploma required
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred
Minimum of 5 years of experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef required
Valid drivers license
2+ years of experience in food service sales or a sales-facing culinary role preferred
Demonstrated experience in menu engineering, food costing, and back-of-house operations required
ServSafe certification preferred (must remain current if held)
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present confidently to customers, prospects, and internal stakeholders
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
familiarity with social media platforms and basic video editing tools preferred
Ability to manage a self-directed schedule while maintaining consistent alignment with Business Development Manager and DSM priorities

Job Duties

Accompany street sales representatives on targeted account calls, serving as a culinary resource to advance new business conversations and close product add-ons
Support and document prospecting efforts by conducting culinary demonstrations, product tastings, and concept presentations for potential customers
Collaborate with the Business Development Manager to identify high-opportunity accounts and develop culinary-driven strategies to convert them
Introduce and demonstrate new products to prospects and customers, translating product benefits into tangible menu and profitability advantages
Conduct on-site culinary consultations with existing independent restaurant customers including front-of-house waitstaff training and back-of-house operational consulting as requested providing actionable recommendations to improve menu performance and profitability
Perform comprehensive menu engineering including menu analysis, item profitability assessment, placement strategy, back-of-house production efficiency, and menu costing analysis with suggested sell prices to clearly demonstrate profitability to customers
Conduct informative facility tours of Palmer’s culinary centers for current and prospective customers
Build long-term relationships with key accounts through regularly scheduled visits, proactive follow-ups, and consistent value-added service
Manage all day-to-day operations of Palmer’s two fully-equipped culinary centers including sanitation, equipment maintenance, product rotation, supply inventory, overall facility presentation, and ensuring compliance with all applicable food safety, health, and sanitation standards
Manage culinary center food and supply costs within budgetary parameters established by the Business Development Manager
Plan and execute customer-facing events, product demonstrations, mini food shows, and culinary education sessions at the culinary centers, coordinating kitchen logistics for all internal and external culinary events including vendor-sponsored activities
Serve as Palmer’s primary culinary subject matter expert, maintaining deep knowledge of the full product portfolio across all categories
Conduct regular, structured product knowledge training sessions for the street sales team to ensure reps can speak confidently about culinary applications and product differentiation
Partner with Purchasing and Sales in the evaluation and selection of new products prior to introduction to the market
Co-manage the Certified Angus Beef program partnership alongside the Director of Marketing and Center of Plate Specialists including culinary demonstrations, customer education events, and menu consultation support
Stay current on industry trends, emerging cuisine styles, food cost pressures, and menu innovation and proactively share relevant insights with the sales team and customers
Work alongside the Marketing team to create digital content for Palmer’s social media channels and marketing materials including recipe videos, cooking demonstrations, product showcases, and seasonal content
Assist in developing and maintaining product manuals, recipe guides, flyers, menu idea sheets, and other culinary sales aids in partnership with Marketing
Represent Palmer Food Services at trade shows, food shows, industry conventions, mini-shows, and company-sponsored events