Corporate Dining Executive Chef

Corporate Dining Executive Chef

Join our REAL Food mission and lead with purpose! Bring your creativity, passion, and leadership to our corporate dining and education segments where fresh, inspired cuisine makes a daily impact. Be part of a culinary team that values scratch cooking, seasonal ingredients, and an elevated food experience.

Your Role and Impact

We are seeking a passionate, highly skilled Corporate Dining Executive Chef to support our Business & Industry (B&I) and Schools verticals at Thomas Cuisine. This role will play a critical part in upholding and advancing our Real Food Mission, bringing standardization to our operations without compromising culinary creativity or quality. The ideal candidate is an inspiring culinary leader who can energize teams, deliver exceptional food experiences, and uphold high standards in both corporate dining and educational environments. This is a highly visible role requiring frequent travel and a strong presence in kitchens, boardrooms, and client-facing events.

You will...

• Drive culinary standardization across B&I and Schools, ensuring consistency and quality while respecting the uniqueness of each operation.
• Partner with operations and culinary teams to enhance food quality, control costs, and inspire creativity across menus.
• Conduct hands-on culinary training, mentoring chefs and kitchen teams to elevate skills, techniques, and food presentation.
• Support the Sales team with presentations, tastings, and client engagements representing our culinary excellence and Real Food values.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to maintain operational efficiency and continuously innovate within the food program.
• Champion food cost management strategies without sacrificing ingredient quality or guest satisfaction.
• Maintain an executive presence while engaging with clients, internal stakeholders, and culinary teams.
• Be an active and visible culinary ambassador sharing expertise, building trust, and aligning food programs with client and company goals.
• Play a key role in designing and implementing new culinary operating models to ensure the company remains competitive, relevant, and responsive to the financial and operational challenges faced by clients.
• Support the successful launch of new accounts by assisting with culinary planning, team training, and on-site execution during openings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 5-10 years of culinary experience in corporate dining, hospitality, or restaurant environments.
• Formal education from an accredited culinary school is required.
• Proven leadership in multi-unit food service operations, with the ability to drive culinary excellence at scale.
• Demonstrated experience in managing food costs, procurement, and kitchen labor.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills; a dynamic communicator capable of leading live cooking demos, training sessions, and client presentations.
• Ability to command a room and establish credibility with executives, clients, and kitchen staff alike.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, client-focused environments with multiple competing priorities.
• Must be willing and able to travel extensively (50%–70%) across multiple regions.
• Preferred candidates will reside near a major metropolitan airport to support efficient travel. Ideal locations include Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Boise, ID; or Dallas, TX.
• Preferred but not required: experience in retail food operations, commissary kitchens, or culinary branding initiatives.

Who We Are

Founded in 1986, Thomas Cuisine is an award-winning, privately held contract food service company. We advocate the healing and unifying power of whole foods, preparing scratch-made cuisine fresh each day. Every Thomas Cuisine team member is a mission ambassador—delivering Real Food, Genuine Service, and Enduring Relationships.

Why Join Us?

Make a Difference: Support employee wellbeing and student success through REAL food. 

Innovation-Friendly: Collaborate and innovate on menus and programs that reflect trends and diverse cultures.

Growth-Focused: Thrive in a values-driven company that promotes leadership development.

Robust Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401(k) match, and more.

Compensation

Annual Salary Range: $95,000 – $105,000 depending on experience, plus performance bonus potential.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Must be able to stand, walk, and lift up to 40 lbs.
• Work is performed primarily indoors, with occasional exposure to outdoor weather.
• Noise levels are moderate; kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and equipment are present.
• Frequent hand washing and adherence to sanitation protocols are required.

Our Commitment to You

At Thomas Cuisine, we believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are essential to our mission. We foster a workplace where all voices are valued and every team member can thrive.

REAL Food | Genuine Service | Enduring Relationships