Cook

You’ve got the heat. You’ve got the chops. We’ve got the jet fuel.

This isn’t a line cook job. This is a head chef role in airline catering production at LSG Sky Chefs in Houston, TX. You’ll work on site, side by side with an Executive Chef, making sure every single meal that leaves our kitchen hits company standards, stays true to menu specs, and actually tastes like it was made with care. When the Executive Chef is out, you run the show. The kitchen doesn’t slow down, and you make sure it doesn’t have to.

We were named “Airline Caterer of the Year in North America” for 2023 and 2024. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because our people know their craft and they give a damn. If that sounds like you, keep reading.

What you’ll actually do

• Oversee all food production in both Hot & Cold Kitchen areas at the Customer Service Center (CSC).
• Catch deviations in inventory and production early, and take countermeasures before they become problems.
• Adjust production plans on the fly. Estimate what food and equipment you’ll need for each day’s output.
• Make sure every recipe is followed exactly, and run Gold Standard sense checks to confirm taste and quality.
• Help develop new food products and menus as needed.
• Keep catering manuals current; update and distribute them across the CSC.
• Support cost control for the budget including personnel and materials.
• Jump into menu presentations, both internal and with clients.
• Coordinate countermeasures when customer complaints roll in about production.
• Help shape and execute training plans for kitchen staff at the CSC.
• Represent the kitchen and its team in front of external stakeholders.
• Research what’s new and emerging in food trends, and loop in Design Chefs to keep things fresh.
• Support marketing activities when they come up.
• Inspect the quality of every shipment of goods that arrives.
• Keep food storage organized and tidy, and enforce first in / first out rotation strictly.
• Hold the line on hygiene, health, safety, and HACCP regulations throughout the CSC.
• Make sure your area is properly staffed and organized every day.
• Guide, motivate, and develop the folks who report to you ; in line with HR policy.
• Live the company’s values and management principles. Make them real in your department.
• Manage and control your cost budget; when something’s off, you initiate corrective action.
• Take part in company initiatives like Global Quality Standard (GQS), HACCP, and Lean Manufacturing.

What you need to bring

• Five years of experience in commercial cooking. No shortcuts there.
• An apprenticeship or graduation from an accredited culinary school.
• Extra certifications like diet chef, industrial chef, or design chef help ; or equivalent professional experience.
• Certification with the American Culinary Federation is a plus.
• Real knowledge of food and hygiene regulations, especially HACCP.
• Solid organizational skills and service orientation.
• You’re comfortable with Microsoft Office and Windows based applications.

Compensation

Salary range for this role is $94,000.00 to $110,000.00.

How to apply

Submit your application through the JobXi listing. Include your resume and any relevant certifications. We’ll be in touch if there’s a fit.

LSG Sky Chefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.