Culinary Operations Manager Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Executive Chef - Catering

M Culinary Concepts is searching for a passionate and experienced Executive Chef with a strong catering and events background to join our vibrant team and help create exceptional culinary experiences across the Southwest. We're an award-winning catering company based in Phoenix, AZ (we're talkingTOP COMPANIES TO WORK FOR & GREAT PLACE TO WORKthree years running!).

About the Role

Are you a passionate culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced catering and events environment? We are seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations at Nibblers, with a strong focus on catering, special events, menu innovation, and exceptional guest experiences.

As the Executive Chef, you will oversee the planning, production, and execution of a wide range of catered events, from intimate gatherings to large-scale corporate functions and social celebrations. This role requires a hands-on leader who can successfully manage multiple events simultaneously while maintaining the highest standards of food quality, presentation, consistency, and profitability.

Working closely with the Sales, Operations, and Procurement teams, you will help create customized menus, support client needs, and ensure flawless culinary execution from initial concept through event completion. You will also lead and develop a talented culinary team, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, accountability, and teamwork.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations for catering events, daily production, and special event execution.
• Partner with Sales and Event Operations teams to design customized menus that align with client expectations, event objectives, and dietary requirements.
• Oversee all aspects of event culinary planning, including staffing, production schedules, logistics, food preparation, and on-site execution.
• Ensure exceptional food quality, presentation, consistency, and guest satisfaction across all catered events and daily operations.
• Develop and standardize recipes, menus, and production procedures to support operational efficiency and scalability.
• Manage culinary labor, scheduling, food costs, inventory, purchasing, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop culinary team members while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Procurement to ensure timely ordering and availability of high-quality ingredients and supplies.
• Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Stay current with industry trends, culinary innovation, and emerging catering concepts to continuously elevate the guest experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for a catering-focused Executive Chef who enjoys creating memorable experiences through food, leading high-performing teams, and executing exceptional events.

M Culinary Concept: Where Food is Fun!

Forget stuffy corporate kitchens. At M Culinary Concepts, we're a passionate crew obsessed with crafting amazing food & beverage experiences. Our core values Inspiring Passion, Service to Others, Humbly Confident and Making Huge Fun! Think fast-paced, collaborative, and full of good times (and of course, delicious food!).

The Perks You Deserve:

As an employee-owner, you'll enjoy asweet benefits packageincluding medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) match, and daily grab-and-go lunches made by our amazing chefs! Plus, you'll stay connected with our internal app and experience theownership spiritthat makes M Culinary so special.

What we need from you:

• Superior leadership skills with the ability to mentor, train, and motivate a diverse culinary team.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to collaborate across departments.
• Strong understanding of dietary requirements, including food allergies, and vegetarian/vegan diets
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt quickly to changing daily demands
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other computer software relevant to inventory and procurement systems.
• Extensive financial understanding, with experience managing budgets, food costs, labor costs, and maximizing profitability.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to ensure timely production execution and efficiency.

Ready to Join the M Culinary Team

If you're an energetic Executive Chef who thrives in a fun and fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you! Apply using our mobile-friendly application today!