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 plan

Profit-sharing bonus

employee discount

Job Description

Palmer Food Services is a well-established leader in the foodservice distribution industry, known for its commitment to quality, customer service, and community values. Located in Rochester, NY, the company specializes in providing a broad range of food products and culinary solutions to independent restaurants, operators, and foodservice professionals. With a legacy of innovation and dedication, Palmer Food Services emphasizes teamwork, integrity, and a strong company culture that values each member as a critical contributor to its success. Offering competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package, Palmer Food Services prioritizes associate well-being and provides ample opportunities for career advancement based on performance and alignment with company mission, vision, and values.

As a Corporate Executive Chef at Palmer Food Services, you will play a pivotal role in bridging culinary expertise with sales and business development efforts. This full-time position, based in Rochester, NY, offers an annual salary range of $80,000 to $100,000. The role demands not only culinary mastery but also the ability to collaborate effectively with sales teams to promote new and existing product lines through innovative culinary presentations and demonstrations. You will act as the primary culinary resource supporting street sales representatives, assisting in converting prospects through strategic culinary concept presentations and tastings. Your expertise will also be crucial in conducting menu engineering, food costing analysis, and operational consulting aimed at enhancing the profitability and performance of customer menus.

Beyond product promotion and culinary consulting, this position requires managing two state-of-the-art culinary centers, ensuring all operations meet stringent sanitation and safety standards while maintaining budgetary constraints. Planning and executing customer-facing culinary events and educational programs will be key responsibilities, along with creating digital content to support marketing initiatives including recipe videos and cooking demonstrations. The Corporate Executive Chef will also serve as a certified subject matter expert on Palmer Food Services' product portfolio and represent the company at trade shows and industry events. This role demands a combination of advanced culinary skills, strong communication abilities, foodservice sales experience, and a passion for fostering long-term customer relationships. The ideal candidate will have a culinary degree, significant executive chef experience, and the capability to work collaboratively across departments to drive business growth and customer satisfaction.

Job Requirements

High school diploma required
5 years of experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef
Valid drivers license
Demonstrated experience in menu engineering, food costing, and back-of-house operations
Preferred ServSafe certification
Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Ability to travel regularly to customer locations
Strong communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Experience in food service sales or sales-facing culinary role preferred

Job Qualifications

High school diploma
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
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
ServSafe Certification preferred
Strong verbal and written communication skills
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 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 (Rochester and Buffalo), 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 (CAB) program partnership alongside the Director of Marketing and Center of Plate Specialists, accountable for CAB 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