Chef Manager - School Campus

Join our REAL Food mission! Lead with Heart. Serve with Purpose.

We are seeking a passionate and hands-on Chef Manager to lead food service operations at our campus Mission Community College in Saratoga-Santa Clara CA. If you thrive in a dynamic campus environment enjoy leading teams and are excited to serve fresh scratch-made meals that support student successthis role is for you.

Your Role and Impact

As Chef Manager you will oversee daily kitchen and dining operations at your assigned campus Mission College. You will lead both the culinary and front-of-house teams to deliver exceptional service and REAL food made from scratch. Reporting to the Multi-Unit Food Service Director you will serve as the on-site leader responsible for creating a welcoming efficient and student-focused dining experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day culinary and service operations for the assigned campus dining location.
• Prepare and serve scratch-made meals that align with Thomas Cuisines REAL Food values.
• Lead train and schedule kitchen and service team members fostering a supportive and respectful team culture.
• Collaborate with the Multi-Unit Director to implement menus catering and seasonal offerings.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety and sanitation regulations; maintain ServSafe standards.
• Monitor food labor costs utilizing P&L knowledge while managing inventory and reduce waste through efficient systems.
• Engage with students faculty and campus staff to ensure a warm and responsive dining experience.
• Champion sustainability and wellness initiatives on campus through menu design and daily practices.
• Maintain cleanliness safety and visual standards throughout the kitchen and service areas.
• Support special campus events and catering operations as needed.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Culinary degree is preferred but not necessary and professional experience with a restaurant or college campus management.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience in a chef sous chef or kitchen manager role with P&L business acumen.
• Food service experience in education campus dining restaurant or multi-outlet environments strongly preferred.
• Excellent culinary skills with a passion for scratch cooking and fresh ingredients.
• Proven ability to manage teams prioritize tasks and lead by example.
• Working knowledge of food cost controls production systems and menu planning.
• ServSafe Certification (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• Strong communication skills and commitment to service excellence.

Why Join Us

REAL Impact: Bring healthy wholesome food to students faculty and staff every day.

Team Leadership: Build and guide a values-driven culinary team on campus.

Growth Opportunities: Learn from a supportive Multi-Unit Director and grow within a national organization.

Meaningful Culture: Work for a company that believes in ownership passion and respect.

Compensation

Annual Salary range: $80000-$85000 depending on experience.
Schedule: Monday-Friday (weekends off).

Who We Are

Thomas Cuisine is an award-winning privately held contract food service company founded in 1986. We are passionate about scratch cooking seasonal ingredients and wellness-forward menus. Our teams serve REAL foodrooted in transparency hospitality and culinary excellence.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Active on-your-feet role in a kitchen and service environment.

Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. and work in a high-volume setting.

Frequent handwashing and strict adherence to food safety required.

Some evenings or weekends may be needed for events or special services.

REAL Food Genuine Service Enduring Relationships

Required Experience:

Manager