Campus Executive Chef

Role Overview

Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University is a dynamic and growing private liberal arts institution with more than 9,000 students and a thriving campus community. Sodexo partners with Belmont to deliver an exceptional dining experience built on innovation, hospitality, and a shared commitment to excellence.

The dining program includes a diverse portfolio of student dining, retail concepts, and catering services, designed to serve both the Belmont community and visiting guests. The account features:

• Residential Dining: A contemporary all-you-care-to-eat facility featuring multiple chef-driven stations, from global flavors to allergen-friendly and plant-forward options.

• Retail Dining: A mix of national and local brands including Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chick-fil-A, We Produly Serve Starbucks, Shake Smart , plus emerging local and student-focused concepts like Neely Deli and Betty’s Market.

• Catering & Events: A robust catering program supporting high-profile campus and community events.

• Special Initiatives: Signature Sodexo programs including Simple Servings, Mindful, LeanPath waste management, and Sustainability at Belmont, aligning with the University’s values and Sodexo’s pillars of People First, Program Excellence, and Profitable Growth.

The Campus Executive Chef will lead all culinary operations—driving innovation, consistency, and excellence across residential, retail, and catering platforms. This role requires a passion for mentorship, team development, and delivering an elevated hospitality experience that embodies Belmont’s mission and Sodexo’s standards of quality and service.

What You'll Do

• Be responsible for purchasing, menu compliance, inventory, food cost analysis, and food production forecasting;
• Ensure Sodexo Culinary standards, including recipe compliance and food quality, are implemented;
• Have a working knowledge of automated food inventory, ordering, production, and management systems;
• Implement those systems and ensure ongoing compliance across campus.  Oversee concept development, menu design, and the implementation of new culinary concepts;
• Driving innovation and excellence in the university's dining program to meet the diverse needs and tastes of the student body and staff;
• Promote customer loyalty and brand image, diagnose customer needs, and recommend appropriate products or services;

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

• High-volume, quality-focused culinary management experience, preferably within a campus dining setting;
• Exemplary communication skills with the ability to lead a large team;
• Strong organizational skills -detail-oriented and task-focused; able to manage conflicting priorities
• Possesses strong leadership skills and hands-on training approach with an ability to effectively communicate with culinary staff, key personnel, Catering Staff, and Management team
• Experience in successfully managing food and labor costs, strong computer skills, and HACCP training skills

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experienceMinimum Management Experience - 5 yearsMinimum Functional Experience - 3 years