Executive Chef - Carter Center

Proof of the Pudding is a distinguished chef-led hospitality company established in Atlanta in 1979, renowned for delivering exceptional food and beverage experiences at some of North America’s most complex sports, entertainment, cultural, and live-event venues. The company has built a national reputation by doing hospitality differently with an emphasis on from-scratch cooking at scale, hyper-local sourcing, and fostering strong partnership-first relationships with clients. Proof of the Pudding serves a wide variety of clients that include professional and collegiate sports venues, convention centers, cultural institutions, and large-scale destination events both across the United States and internationally. With a focus on culinary excellence and client collaboration rather than simply contractual engagement, Proof of the Pudding continues to innovate and lead the hospitality industry.

Proof of the Pudding (POP) exclusively provides award-winning catering and provisions within the prestigious Carter Presidential Center. Its culinary services range from cafeteria dining and small executive retreats to multi-day conferences, elegant evening receptions, and special events. The company excels in catering diverse events—from professional corporate conferences to upscale weddings—making it a trusted name in the culinary and hospitality sector.

The Executive Chef role at the Carter Center is a key leadership position within Proof of the Pudding, responsible for overseeing the culinary division and ensuring the delivery of high-quality food services. The Executive Chef leads menu development and execution, team leadership and growth, event logistics, and managing department financials. This role requires a creative and innovative culinary professional who can push the boundaries of conventional event catering while maintaining high standards of quality and consistency in a high-volume environment. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in event catering, strong leadership skills, and the ability to foster positive client relationships while maintaining operational excellence. The salary range for this role is $75,000 to $85,000 annually, with an additional 11% performance bonus. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance options, life and disability coverage, a cell phone stipend, and daily meals.

Responsibilities will include developing unique and innovative custom menus, collaborating with sales for pricing strategies, managing client relationships and customer satisfaction, keeping up with industry trends, maintaining kitchen cleanliness and safety standards, overseeing inventory and procurement, executing events flawlessly, and managing costs and labor to maximize profitability. The Executive Chef will also lead the culinary team by hiring, training, scheduling, and building morale to create a cohesive and productive work environment. Regular communication with sales, operations, culinary, and management teams ensures cohesive event execution and client satisfaction. The position involves both office work and active kitchen presence, requiring the ability to adapt and perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting and standing for extended periods.

Proof of the Pudding values core principles such as business acumen, dedication, ethics and integrity, safety and security, teamwork, communication, initiative, adaptability, planning, and service orientation. These values shape the work environment and expectations for all employees, fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and continuous improvement. The company is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair consideration for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.