Executive Chef - Benedict College

Benedict College, a prestigious private historically Black liberal arts college located in Columbia, South Carolina, is looking for an experienced Executive Chef to lead its campus dining team. Founded in 1870 by Bathsheba A. Benedict, the institution was established to provide educational opportunities to formerly enslaved African Americans following the Civil War. Today, the college serves over 1,700 students and offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as business, education, engineering, cybersecurity, biology, and computer science. Benedict College is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, community engagement, and student success. The college upholds a rich heritage as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) and takes pride in fostering a supportive environment that nurtures growth and achievement among its students.

The Executive Chef role at Benedict College is a critical leadership position responsible for delivering a high-quality culinary experience that makes a difference in the lives of students and the university community. The chef will oversee all aspects of daily kitchen operations, including menu creation, food preparation, staff management, and budget control. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the campus dining experience by designing nutritionally balanced, innovative menus that consider cost efficiency, sustainability, and the diverse preferences and needs of the student body and university staff. The Executive Chef will lead a culinary team, recruiting and training kitchen staff and fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and excellence. This role also requires managing performance, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation regulations.

Additionally, the Executive Chef will be responsible for establishing relationships with food suppliers and vendors, negotiating contracts, and coordinating procurement to guarantee the highest quality ingredients and supplies. Staying informed about culinary trends, emerging dining preferences, and sustainability practices is essential to continuously enhance the dining experience on campus. This leadership role requires strong organizational skills, creativity, and a passion for culinary arts to maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency.

Benedict College has partnered with Thompson Hospitality, one of the largest restaurant, food service, and facilities management companies in the United States, known for its values of integrity, excellence, and respectful treatment of employees and clients alike. This partnership brings a wealth of experience and resources to Benedict College’s dining services, ensuring competitive benefits and a commitment to quality. Thompson Hospitality’s strong legacy of over 33 years emphasizes the importance of relationships with clients, guests, and communities to foster mutual success.

This Executive Chef position requires flexibility and physical stamina due to the demands of a fast-paced kitchen environment. The candidate must be able to work early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays as needed while handling the physical requirements of extended periods of standing, bending, lifting up to 50 pounds, and operating kitchen equipment safely.

The company is committed to diversity and equal opportunity and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business needs without discrimination. This is a full-time role with competitive compensation and benefits designed to support employee well-being and professional growth. Joining Benedict College as the Executive Chef means playing an essential role in enhancing campus life through exceptional culinary service and leadership.