Executive Chef - Adobe
We are seeking a highly accomplished Executive Chef to lead and inspire a dynamic culinary program at Adobe's flagship San Francisco campus. This role oversees two café locations and a robust catering operation, serving a sophisticated client base that expectsinnovation, exceptional quality, and memorable dining experiences.
The Executive Chef will be responsible for driving culinary excellence across the entire food program, with a strong emphasis on program curation, activation, innovation, team development, and operational performance. This is an ideal opportunity for a proven culinary leader who has excelled as an Executive Chef in high-end restaurant and corporate dining environments and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of culinary talent.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic culinary leadership for two cafés and catering operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and guest experiences.
- Curating and continuously evolving menus, dining experiences, and culinary activations that align with client expectations and industry trends.
- Leading, mentoring, and developing a culinary team of approximately 35 associates, including two salaried chefs and multiple frontline leaders.
- Creating a culture focused on coaching, accountability, engagement, and professional growth, with an emphasis on developing future Executive Chefs and culinary leaders.
- Partnering closely with operations, hospitality, and client stakeholders to deliver innovative programming and elevate the overall dining experience.
- Managing food cost, inventory controls, purchasing, production planning, and labor resources to achieve financial objectives.
- Ensuring compliance with all food safety, sanitation, health, and workplace safety standards through training, auditing, and operational oversight.
- Overseeing catering execution, including high-profile events, executive dining, and campus activations.
- Maintaining strong employee relations practices, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment while addressing performance and development opportunities.
- Monitoring and analyzing operational metrics, implementing continuous improvement initiatives that drive efficiency and guest satisfaction.
- Staying current on culinary trends, sustainability initiatives, and emerging dining concepts to continually enhance the program.
Preferred qualifications include:
- Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent culinary education and experience.
- 7+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience, including significant Executive Chef experience within high-volume, complex foodservice environments.
- Demonstrated success leading large culinary teams, including managing salaried chefs and developing culinary managers.
- Experience in both upscale restaurant environments and corporate dining programs required.
- Previous Bon Appétit Management Company experience strongly preferred.
- Extensive catering and special events experience, including large-scale and high-touch hospitality programs.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing food cost, inventory, purchasing, labor, and budgeting.
- Proven expertise in food safety, sanitation, HACCP programs, and regulatory compliance.
- Strong employee relations and people-development skills with a passion for coaching and mentorship.
- Comprehensive knowledge of food trends, culinary innovation, menu development, and guest engagement strategies.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, inventory systems, and operational reporting tools.
- ServSafe Certification preferred.
The ideal profile combines the creativity and standards of a high-end restaurant chef with the operational expertise required to lead a world-class corporate dining program. They are equally comfortable mentoring salaried chefs, managing complex operations, engaging with clients, and driving innovation.