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Harvard University

Ivy League university in Cambridge, MA

Chef de Cuisine - Annenberg

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Associate's
Cambridge, MA, USA
In PersonAll duties must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location.
Food Service & HospitalityFood & Beverage Operations Management
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and Teams.
  • Operational knowledge of industrial kitchen equipment, including dishwashers, ovens, and ventilation systems.
  • Operational experience with a variety of food service applications and computerized menu management systems, and ability to learn and adapt to new systems and applications.
  • Experience managing in a unionized environment.
  • Knowledge of Kronos timekeeping software or a similar system.
  • Knowledge of the FoodPro Menu Management system.
  • Ability to become ServSafe Certified within six months of employment.
  • Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, and to be on-call as needed.
  • Ability to stand and walk for significant periods, lift approximately 20 to 30 pounds, bend, stoop, and perform other physical exertion.
Responsibilities
  • Provide culinary oversight to one or more residential dining facilities and oversee the culinary aspects of a quality dining service program to maximize customer satisfaction.
  • Lead the non-exempt culinary team for one or more residential dining halls in compliance with food and occupational safety rules and regulations and customer service expectations.
  • Implement quality assurance policies and procedures for food, sanitation, equipment and facility maintenance and management, and safety.
  • Ensure high-quality food preparation and presentation in accordance with the established menu while meeting target meal costs.
  • Implement and monitor the FoodPro menu and inventory management system, including cost control, loss prevention, weekly inventory audits, and maintaining inventory levels based on menu needs.
  • Assist with development of residential cycle menus and recipes in collaboration with the culinary team.
  • Participate in weekly production meetings and tastings.
  • Plan and execute catered indoor and outdoor events, including house events, campus-wide events, and commencement week events.
  • Ensure kitchen equipment and related physical spaces are operational and in good repair, and submit repair requests as needed.
  • Develop and maintain positive professional relationships with students, provide customer service, and ensure specialty diets and nutritional needs are met.
  • Develop and maintain working relationships with Faculty Deans, House personnel, students, and internal and external stakeholders.
  • Implement and manage unit-specific sustainability goals and programs with the management team.
  • Help ensure the financial viability of assigned units by developing and managing budgets and completing financial tasks accurately and on time.
  • Assist with developing and managing the annual operational budget, including management of MORS and estimation and management of food and labor cost goals.
  • Submit invoices and purchasing card documentation in accordance with policy and procedure, and audit and review documents for accuracy before submission.
  • Complete reporting to University standards and maintain records in accordance with University policy.
  • Encourage creative approaches to improve financial viability, including cost-reduction initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain professional relationships with culinary and front-line service staff through two-way communication, timely feedback, collaboration, and visibility in the kitchen and work unit.
  • Develop and maintain professional relationships with Union Shop Stewards.
  • Interview candidates and hire according to the approved staffing pattern and budget, and complete probationary employee evaluation forms as required.
  • Develop and implement relevant training with the culinary team to increase the knowledge and ability of cooks and other kitchen staff.
  • Communicate and implement performance expectations and work rules through regular coaching, mentoring, and staff meetings.
  • Consult with Human Resources and impose corrective action as needed in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and University policy and procedure.
  • Participate in grievance hearings and arbitrations, and submit grievance responses within the timelines specified by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Maintain the Kronos timekeeping system accurately and regularly with the management team, and process timecards and absence requests in a timely manner and in accordance with policy and procedure.
  • Assist with developing and implementing new policies and procedures.
Desired Qualifications
  • An associate's or bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts is preferred.
  • At least five years of progressive culinary management experience and experience developing a quality food program in a collegiate and/or restaurant environment is preferred.
  • Knowledge and specialization in one or more world cuisines, such as Southeast Asian, Mediterranean, Ethiopian, or plant-based cuisine, is strongly preferred.

About the company

Harvard University is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1636 and the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It comprises Harvard College and multiple graduate and professional schools.

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