Job Details

Catering Chef

Position Number: 6585348
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Position Type: Food Services

Catering Chef - 37761 University Staff

Description
Catering Chef

Dining and Hospitality Services

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking a Catering Chef to join our team! UCCS offers a diverse and inclusive learning environment that fosters innovation, growth, and the holistic development of its students.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery—a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary Range: $53,183 - $70,911 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location: On-site

Benefits at a Glance

At UCCS, our employees are our most valued asset. We're proud to offer:

Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
Further Your Education: Avail nine waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.
Wellness & More: From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.
Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete picture!

Summary

The Catering Chef will be responsible for oversight of all culinary aspects of UCCS Dining and Hospitality Services Catering. This includes menu development, quality control, pricing and food cost, training and development of catering culinary staff, and assurance of safety and sanitation of the catering kitchen. The Catering Chef will work closely with the Catering Manager to ensure efficient coordination of events and the accuracy of banquet orders to include quantity and pricing. This position also works directly with the Event Services and Conference Services staff by coordinating all decisions regarding culinary aspects of events.

The ability and willingness to work a variable schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, is required. Must be committed to student employment and professional development opportunities for students.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Responsible for all culinary aspects of DHS Catering operations.
Responsible for the quality and the consistency of products delivered to UCCS and the greater Colorado Springs community.
Responsible for the development of an inclusive catering menu, keeping special diets and allergens in mind.
Responsible for maintaining budgets, including menu pricing and cost of goods in catering set by the Director of Dining.
Oversee menu development nutritional values for the UCCS Family Development Center.
Responsible for working directly with event coordinators to provide food quotes to clientele.
Responsible for coordination of menu tastings with the DHS culinary team and event services.
Ensuring sustainable purchasing in collaboration with the Associate Director of Operations and Dining Director
Responsible for being present at appropriate events to represent the DHS culinary team.
Responsible for the training and development of all Catering culinary staff from professionalism to specific culinary technique.
Participate in weekly Catering meetings to include culinary staff, operational staff, and event services.
Responsible for consistent and clear communication with the Catering Manager.
Using a student development staffing model, train and supervise a student employment program that utilizes student culinary staff.
Collecting and sharing feedback that is received during events with the appropriate management team members.
Develop, implement, and support sustainability efforts for events to include compost and recycling efforts and reducing waste in conjunction with the Sustainability Office and DHS leadership.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels for catering food items.
Oversees the commissary bakeshop and ensures consistent product that is sold in the coffee shop, retail outlets and residential dining.
Make recommendations for long and short-term facility and equipment needs, utilizing customer and industry trends and staff input.

Tentative Search Timeline

Priority will be given to applications submitted by: October 5th, 2025
Potential interview dates: October 6th - October 17th 2025.
Potential start date: Early November

Qualifications
Education:

To be considered for this role, you must possess a bachelor's degree in business, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or other related fields.
Year-for-year experience will be considered as a substitute for the degree.
The ideal candidate possesses a valid ServSafe certification.

Experience:

Experience supporting and coordinating a robust high volume culinary program is required.
Experience within a culinary higher education environment is preferred.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applications received before 10/05/2025 will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted through email or surface mail will not be considered. Please apply at cu.edu/cu-careers (job #: 37761). Upon request, please be prepared to provide five professional references (at least two previous/current supervisors), including their email contact information. If you have technical difficulties with your application, please contact the CU Careers help desk at 303-860-4200 #5 or cucareershelp@cu.edu. Job related inquiries should be directed to the posting contact. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs will not sponsor work visas or permanent resident applications for this position. Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV Application Materials Instructions: Please identify the job specific minimum qualifications you possess in your cover letter and be sure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting. To apply, please submit the following application materials to this posting. 1. A current resume. Must include date ranges to include month and year (mm/yyyy) and whether the position was full time or part time. 2. A cover letter that specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualifications. When submitting the materials, check the Job Specific Attachments box next to each document in order for the search committee members to see your materials.

Job Category: Hospitality

Primary Location: Colorado Springs Department: C0001 -- Colorado Springs Campus - 40253 - VCAF-Dining & Hospitality

Schedule: Full-time

Posting Date: Sep 19, 2025

Unposting Date: Ongoing Posting Contact Name: Joshua Hedrick Posting Contact Email: jhedric2@uccs.edu Position Number: 00427511