We recruit the best talent and invest in their ongoing development, through training and mentoring. We provide opportunities to work across our national network. dnata catering U.S. is looking for a Regional Executive Chef our team. 

The Regional Executive Chef at dnata Catering USA is a senior culinary leader responsible for overseeing multi-unit culinary operations, R&D product development, and menu innovation across the region. This role ensures the delivery of exceptional inflight dining experiences through operational excellence, standardization, culinary creativity, and cross-functional collaboration.

The Regional Executive Chef provides strategic leadership to Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, culinary teams, and production staff across assigned kitchens, while driving consistency, quality, and efficiency in all culinary processes. This position works closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Commercial, Purchasing, and the Corporate Culinary Team to deliver world-class, cost-effective, and customer-centric food products.

What We Offer?

• Salary Range:  $100k - $160k annually
•Comprehensive Benefits Package:  Full-time employees are eligible for 401(k) and healthcare benefits including Free Medical, Dental & Vision
• Complimentary Daily Meals: Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner during your shift

Why Join dnata Catering?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Be part of a mission to deliver on the promises our customers make, guided by our values of safety, respect, teamwork, and innovation.
• Career Growth & Recognition: Accelerate your career with structured development programs, mentorship, and our Najm recognition platform that celebrates performance and service excellence.
• Inclusive Culture: Thrive in a collaborative, people-first environment where your voice matters, your contributions are valued, and your future is supported

Accepting applications until: February 28, 2026

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Operations
• Lead and support Executive Chefs and culinary teams across multiple kitchens to ensure consistent production of high-quality meals that meet customer specifications and dnata standards.
• Oversee daily food preparation, cooking, and presentation while ensuring flawless execution during high-volume airline catering production.
• Enforce strict adherence to hygiene, food safety, HACCP, GMPs, and MEDINA Quality Food Assurance requirements.
• Maintain full compliance with Food Ready Times (FRT), production schedules, and exact airline order quantities.
• Drive productivity improvements, labor cost controls, and efficiency in high-volume operations.
• Prevent overproduction by producing to exact order numbers and monitoring waste, yields, and batch accuracy.
• Ensure seamless internal supply chain support to dish-out, cold assembly, hot kitchen, and tray setup areas.
• Conduct daily shift meetings, communicate operational priorities, and maintain strong departmental coordination.

Menu Development, R&D, and Innovation
• Lead regional support for new menu design, recipe development, flavor profiles, and plating concepts tailored to each airline’s brand and service class.
• Manage menu costing, labor man-minute calculations, raw material costing, and production viability for all new dishes and menu cycles.
• Develop and test production yields, validating assumptions against real kitchen output across multiple stations and regions.
• Oversee the creation of marketable, innovative food concepts aligned with global culinary trends, consumer insights, and airline expectations.
• Conduct modality testing, tasting panels, product cuttings, and culinary presentations for both internal and customer stakeholders.
• Maintain and support the recipe database, ensuring accuracy in recipes, yields, batch conversions, and costing data.
• Ensure all new recipes meet HACCP, food safety, and operational feasibility standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Purchasing to source required raw materials, proteins, produce, tray setup items, and specialty ingredients aligned with quality and cost targets.
• Ensure Receiving Departments fulfill requisition orders accurately and consistently.
• Collaborate with Operations leadership to support project timelines, new business launches, client onboardings, and regional process rollouts.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance to document, standardize, and implement new procedures or updates to existing workflows.
• Support the Head of Culinary on national and regional culinary initiatives, special projects, and customer onboardings.

Standardization, Process Improvement & Documentation
• Develop, improve, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all culinary and R&D production workflows.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and process optimization across all units.
• Standardize production portfolios including preservation methods, food hygiene practices, and product specifications.
• Maintain R&D kitchen environments, equipment readiness, ingredient inventory, and documentation accuracy.

Training, Development & Leadership
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, and development for chefs, cooks, and culinary support staff.
• Conduct on-the-job training for new recipes, plating, batch preparation, and equipment usage.
• Foster a culture of culinary excellence, safety, teamwork, and performance management.
• Serve as a liaison between regional culinary teams and corporate leadership to align strategies and ensure consistent execution.

Nonessential Functions
• Perform other related duties as assigned by senior leadership.

Education
• Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts or related field preferred.
• Associate Degree with 10+ years of high-level culinary leadership accepted.
• ServSafe Manager Certification (or equivalent) required within 90 days.

Experience
• Minimum 10 years of culinary leadership, including experience in high-volume food production.
• At least 5 years of airline catering experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in Michelin-starred or highly reputable culinary institutions desired.
• Prior experience in a MEDINA Quality Food Assurance kitchen preferred.
• 2+ years of R&D, menu development, or culinary innovation experience preferred.

Skills & Competencies
• Expert knowledge of international cuisine, ingredients, and global food trends.
• Strong recipe development, menu engineering, costing, and yield management skills.
• Skilled in culinary artistry, creativity, plating, flavor development, and texture execution.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), costing tools, and recipe management platforms.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills with both internal and external customers.
• Ability to travel across assigned regions as needed.
• Valid food handler’s certification or equivalent.

Incident response

Ensure threats, knives and breaches are handled in a timely manner and investigated properly to determine root cause and corrective action.

Intellectual/Social demands:

While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is continuously asked to multi-task under time limits.  Position requires constant attention to precise details and accuracy of specified standards including following simple to complex (more than 3 steps) instructions, and concentration which frequently extends beyond 30 minutes at a time. This position also requires constant attendance and punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time. Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan. Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.

Physical demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 30 pounds. Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Use equipment and materials properly.

Work environment:

The essential functions of this position are performed indoors. The noise level in the work environment can range from minimal to loud

dnata’s Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job:

There are two aspects to working as effectively as we can: our people and our results. Our eight competencies are designed to help you focus on these aspects:

dnata Catering’s Core Values

At dnata Catering, our people and operations are guided by six global values that shape how we work every day:
• Safety – We put the well-being of our people and operations first, encouraging everyone to speak up for safety.
• Performance-Driven – We set ambitious goals and consistently strive to exceed them.
• Respect – We care for our people, our environment, and our brand, treating everyone with dignity.
• Service Excellence – We deliver reliable, high-quality service in every interaction.
• Delighting Customers – We create extraordinary experiences that go beyond expectations.
• Imagination – We embrace innovation and adapt to meet the needs of tomorrow.

What This Means for You
Joining dnata Catering means being part of a people-first culture that values respect, quality, and innovation. Our teams work together to deliver outstanding culinary experiences, solve problems proactively, and continuously improve to serve our airline customers worldwide.

We believe that diversity and inclusion are fundamental to creating a strong workplace and community. At dnata, we’re proud that our workforce is as diverse as the customers we serve. And we’re committed to nurturing your talent with mentoring, volunteer and professional development opportunities. We welcome everyone. Our employee resource groups are one of the many ways we champion diversity and inclusion at dnata.

Notice Regarding Background Checks in California
Pursuant to the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1786 et seq.), dnata Catering may obtain an investigative consumer report (background check) on applicants or employees for employment purposes. Such a report may include information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living.

You have the right, upon written request, to receive a copy of any report obtained and a summary of your rights under California law. You also have the right to inspect or obtain a copy of your file maintained by the consumer reporting agency that prepares such reports, as provided under Cal. Civ. Code §1786.22.