Executive Chef

Levy is a pioneering company in the sports and entertainment hospitality industry, renowned as the market leader and a disruptor in defining exceptional guest experiences. Their diverse portfolio spans award-winning restaurants, iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos, cultural institutions, theaters, and convention centers. Levy's distinguished presence includes catering premier events such as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and various all-star games in major leagues like NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS. Levy is a member of Compass Group USA and prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment that encourages diversity, equal opportunity, and professional growth. Recognized twice by Fast Company magazine as one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports and by Forbes as one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America, Levy emphasizes a workplace culture where employees can be their authentic selves and collaborate as a family.

The Executive Chef role at Tulsa Zoo represents a vital leadership position within Levy's portfolio. This position entails ownership and visionary leadership over all culinary operations at Tulsa Zoo, marrying creativity with operational excellence. The Executive Chef is responsible for setting and upholding menu standards, ensuring food safety, leading and training kitchen staff, and representing the culinary team in social media and partner events. Given that food plays an integral role in the guests' overall experience, this role requires an experienced food and beverage leader who is not only a skilled chef but also an effective coach and business-minded professional. The successful candidate will inspire creativity while maintaining a sharp focus on operational performance and execution.

Responsibilities include planning menus that adhere to established guidelines, following standardized recipes and portion control to maintain quality and consistency, as well as managing daily production workflows and waste logs. The Executive Chef ensures rigorous training for kitchen staff in food preparation, equipment operation, food safety, and sanitation in line with both company and regulatory standards. Maintenance of cleanliness, equipment schedules, and inventory control also falls under this role to guarantee high efficiency and compliance with health regulations. The chef will actively participate in departmental meetings and development programs and demonstrate Levy's core values such as being nice, innovative, passionate, and inclusive.

Ideal candidates bring at least five years of progressive culinary or kitchen management experience, with substantial exposure to high-volume, complex food service environments and catering, particularly in institutional or batch cooking settings. Hands-on chef experience is essential alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and client engagement activities. ServSafe certification is a must to meet food safety standards. Levy champions diversity and fairness in its hiring process and offers competitive salaries ranging from $85,000 to $95,000 for this full-time role.

Levy's culture underlines family values and offers comprehensive benefits to support the wellness and professional growth of its team members. Candidates will join a forward-thinking company dedicated to fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment.