Role Overview:
Executive Chef 1 (Catering)
Sodexo Corporate Services | Fannie Mae Midtown – Washington, DC
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.
About the Operation
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.
Why Sodexo?
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.
Incentives: Predominately a 6am to 4pm M-F schedule with rare evenings or weekends What You'll Do:
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.
Key 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
What We Offer:
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- 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
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
What You Bring:
- 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
Who We Are:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
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.
Qualifications & Requirements:
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.