Executive Chef

Upper Crust Food Service is a premier hospitality partner known for delivering high-end, chef-driven dining solutions to over 750 partners nationwide. As a leading provider in the food service industry, Upper Crust combines the best of boutique restaurant creativity with the extensive resources of a national leader to provide exceptional culinary experiences. The company proudly maintains a culture small enough to care deeply for its employees and clients, fostering a hospitality-first mindset that shines through in every dining experience it offers. Upper Crust Food Service is committed to elevating the food service experience, particularly within educational institutions where it believes great food plays a vital role in enriching the student experience. Operating across a wide national footprint, Upper Crust empowers its leadership teams to take initiative and run their accounts with an entrepreneurial spirit to meet the unique needs of each community they serve.

This particular Executive Chef role at Upper Crust Food Service is much more than a traditional chef position; it represents a unique opportunity to serve as the culinary architect for a premier, multi-unit dining program at a prominent Seattle collegiate campus. The Executive Chef will lead a multi-faceted culinary operation that serves over 500 daily diners and manages large-scale catering events that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests. This position demands a visionary leader with the creativity to innovate menu design focused on sustainability and local sourcing efforts, such as the company's "Seattle-Grown" initiatives, while ensuring operational excellence and financial stewardship.

The Executive Chef will oversee all aspects of culinary operations, including full-service cafés, retail, and catering, contributing to an enhanced campus life culture through food. This role requires a sharp focus on culinary innovation combined with hands-on management of food safety compliance, staff development, and the financial health of the program including P&L management and cost controls. Furthermore, the Executive Chef will drive employee engagement, creating a positive and inclusive workplace that fosters team growth and retention. Technical proficiency is essential, with an emphasis on leveraging digital tools like Google Workspace for planning and communications, alongside foodservice operational analytics.

Upper Crust Food Service offers competitive pay ranging from $35 to $37 per hour for this role in Seattle, WA, paired with a comprehensive benefits package. The benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, holiday time off which varies by site and state, and several wellness programs, among others. This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary professional who is passionate about merging sustainability, culinary artistry, and strategic operations within a prestigious educational environment. Join Upper Crust Food Service and lead the next era of campus dining where your creativity and leadership directly impact student success and community well-being.