Catering Executive Chef

Confidential Search | Washington, DC Metro Area

$125,000–$150,000+ Base + Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits

The Opportunity

This is a senior culinary leadership role for someone who knows that off-premise catering is an entirely different operation.

We’re conducting a confidential search for an accomplished Catering Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for a premier hospitality and catering organization serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

The operation produces everything from intimate VIP dinners and luxury weddings to galas, corporate events, and large-scale functions. We need a chef who understands how to deliver exceptional food when the kitchen, timeline, guest count, and venue change from one event to the next.

This role requires more than exceptional culinary talent. It requires a leader who understands production, logistics, financial performance, team development, and flawless event execution at scale.

What You’ll Lead

• Direct culinary operations for high-end, off-premise catered events throughout the DC region
• Oversee production and execution for events ranging from intimate VIP experiences to large-scale functions
• Develop seasonal menus and customized culinary experiences
• Translate creative menu concepts into food that can be consistently executed at event scale
• Lead production planning, staffing, transportation, logistics, and on-site culinary execution
• Recruit, train, mentor, and retain a high-performing culinary team
• Manage food cost, labor, purchasing, inventory, and culinary budgets
• Establish systems that protect quality and consistency across multiple events and venues
• Partner closely with sales and event teams from proposal through execution
• Maintain exceptional standards for presentation, food quality, sanitation, and food safety
• Anticipate operational challenges and develop solutions before event day
• Balance culinary creativity with the financial and logistical realities of a multimillion-dollar catering operation

The Experience We’re Looking For

Significant high-end off-premise catering experience is required.

Ideal candidates will bring experience from environments such as:

• Luxury catering companies
• High-end weddings and social events
• Corporate and executive catering
• Museum or cultural institution catering
• Convention and large-scale event operations
• Sports and entertainment venue catering
• Multimillion-dollar catering organizations

In addition, candidates should have:

• 10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience
• 5+ years at the Executive Chef or Catering Executive Chef level
• Demonstrated success leading luxury off-premise catering operations
• Experience executing both intimate and large-scale events
• Strong culinary technique and menu-development experience
• Proven leadership of sizable culinary and production teams
• Strong financial acumen, including food cost and labor management
• Excellent organizational and logistical planning skills
• Ability to manage multiple events, deadlines, teams, and priorities simultaneously
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills
• Culinary degree preferred

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $125,000–$150,000+, based on experience

Plus:

• Performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) program
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Professional development opportunities
• Career advancement potential

This Is Catering at a Different Level

A beautiful plate is only the beginning.

At this level, success means knowing how to take an ambitious culinary vision and execute it for 50 guests or 1,500—at a venue that may not have a traditional kitchen—without compromising the experience.

If you’ve built your career in luxury off-premise catering and understand the precision, creativity, logistics, and leadership required to do it exceptionally well, we’d like to have a confidential conversation.

For immediate and confidential consideration, send your current resume to:

Tom Bull

Gecko Hospitality

tombull@geckohospitality.com

All resumes and inquiries will be handled with strict professional confidentiality.