Entry Level Executive Chef Jobs
New grad executive chef jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with little to no professional experience, where a strong portfolio of culinary work or hands-on internship time often carries more weight than years on a resume. Most openings are on-site roles concentrated in Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Tourism, and Media & Entertainment, with employers like Sodexo, MGM Resorts International, and Aramark hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 102+ Entry Level Executive Chef jobs
Executive Sous Chef – Luxury Residential Dining
Irvine Company Villas, Fashion Island – Newport Beach, CA
Sodexo at The Irvine Company Villas at Fashion Island is seeking an exceptional Executive Sous Chef to lead daily culinary operations for a luxury, resort‑style residential community. This role oversees the café, lounge, social hour activations, poolside service, and onsite catering for a 900‑resident property known for elevated hospitality and a strong sense of community.
As the sole manager onsite, the Executive Sous Chef leads an hourly supervisor and a team of eight, ensuring seamless service across a seven‑day‑a‑week operation. This is a hands‑on leadership role for a chef who thrives in guest‑facing environments, enjoys building relationships with regulars, and can balance culinary creativity with operational discipline.
Oversee daily culinary operations for the café, lounge, poolside service, and resident social hours
Lead and support an hourly team of 8, including an onsite supervisor
Execute a fresh, approachable menu featuring salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, smoothies, and a full coffee program
Deliver high‑quality catering for resident events and community gatherings
Maintain resort‑style service standards with strong guest engagement and relationship‑building
Oversee specialty offerings including fresh pizza from the onsite oven and Friday grill activations
- 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
Experience in restaurants, hotels, or catering with strong guest‑facing presence
Ability to manage solo as the only manager onsite in a seven‑day operation
Strong culinary and operational skills including ordering, prep systems, and service flow
Comfort with administrative tasks such as scheduling, inventory, and basic computer work
Leadership that builds trust and fosters a positive, appreciated team culture
Commitment to hospitality and delivering a warm, consistent resident experience
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.
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
Executive Sous Chef – Luxury Residential Dining
Irvine Company Villas, Fashion Island – Newport Beach, CA
Sodexo at The Irvine Company Villas at Fashion Island is seeking an exceptional Executive Sous Chef to lead daily culinary operations for a luxury, resort‑style residential community. This role oversees the café, lounge, social hour activations, poolside service, and onsite catering for a 900‑resident property known for elevated hospitality and a strong sense of community.
As the sole manager onsite, the Executive Sous Chef leads an hourly supervisor and a team of eight, ensuring seamless service across a seven‑day‑a‑week operation. This is a hands‑on leadership role for a chef who thrives in guest‑facing environments, enjoys building relationships with regulars, and can balance culinary creativity with operational discipline.
Oversee daily culinary operations for the café, lounge, poolside service, and resident social hours
Lead and support an hourly team of 8, including an onsite supervisor
Execute a fresh, approachable menu featuring salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, smoothies, and a full coffee program
Deliver high‑quality catering for resident events and community gatherings
Maintain resort‑style service standards with strong guest engagement and relationship‑building
Oversee specialty offerings including fresh pizza from the onsite oven and Friday grill activations
- 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
Experience in restaurants, hotels, or catering with strong guest‑facing presence
Ability to manage solo as the only manager onsite in a seven‑day operation
Strong culinary and operational skills including ordering, prep systems, and service flow
Comfort with administrative tasks such as scheduling, inventory, and basic computer work
Leadership that builds trust and fosters a positive, appreciated team culture
Commitment to hospitality and delivering a warm, consistent resident experience
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.
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
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Find JobsEntry Level Executive Chef Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Sodexo66
- MGM Resorts International5
- Aramark4
- Hyatt2
- Cru1
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage71
- Hospitality & Tourism18
- Media & Entertainment5
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Retail2
Entry Level Executive Chef Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level executive chef job?
Employers hiring entry level executive chefs typically look for culinary school credentials, a portfolio of original menus or dishes, and any hands-on kitchen experience, including internships, externships, or even personal catering work. Tailoring your application to highlight flavor profiles, cost awareness, and leadership potential in a kitchen setting gives candidates a real edge at this stage, even without years of professional history.
Which companies hire entry level executive chefs?
Companies hiring entry level executive chefs right now include Sodexo, MGM Resorts International, and Aramark, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hotels, restaurant groups, corporate dining operators, and catering companies tend to be especially active at this level, often building out their culinary teams with emerging talent.
Are there remote entry level executive chef jobs?
Yes, though most executive chef work is on-site by nature. About 2% of entry level executive chef openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and these tend to involve roles with consulting, menu development, or culinary content components rather than daily kitchen operations.
Are these new grad executive chef jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior executive chef roles. A posting is generally new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or externships in place of full-time history, or explicitly invites candidates to submit a culinary portfolio. If a listing does not require prior professional employment, it is worth applying.
Which industries hire the most entry level executive chefs?
Entry Level executive chef roles concentrate in Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Tourism, and Media & Entertainment, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors tend to drive the most hiring at this level because they operate high-volume kitchens or diverse dining programs that benefit from fresh culinary perspectives and developing talent.