Executive Chef 1 (Catering)

Sodexo•Washington, DC

About The Position

Sodexo Corporate Services is seeking a talented and driven Catering Executive Chef to lead catering operations at Fannie Mae Midtown in Washington, DC. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on culinary leader who thrives in a fast‑paced corporate environment and enjoys creating memorable dining experiences. Our food program includes: A high‑volume café Catering and conference services Pantry services The focus of this role is catering and events, supporting everything from daily breakfast and lunch meetings to large‑scale conferences and executive events. At Sodexo, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your creativity, lead with autonomy, and make a meaningful impact in a premier corporate dining environment—all while being part of a global organization committed to excellence and innovation. As the Catering Executive Chef 1, you will be the dedicated culinary lead for all catering operations. You’ll have full ownership of catering menus and execution, working closely with the events team to deliver customized, high‑quality offerings that exceed client expectations. This is a hands‑on leadership role, with approximately 80% of your time spent in production cooking, alongside responsibilities for menu development, inventory, and team leadership. When catering demand is lighter, you will also provide culinary support to café operations.

Requirements

A passionate culinary professional with strong catering and event experience
Confident leader comfortable working in a union environment
Organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple events simultaneously
Creative menu writer with a strong sense of presentation and flavor
A team‑oriented chef who enjoys collaboration and hands‑on execution
Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
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.

Responsibilities

Develop and write seasonal and customized catering menus
Partner with the events and conference services team to meet client culinary needs
Execute high‑quality production cooking for meetings and events
Lead, train, and manage two union culinary team members
Oversee ordering, inventory, and food quality standards
Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and Sodexo standards
Support café operations as business needs require