Allergen Culinary Specialist

Job Summary

The Café Manager+ Lead is responsible for supporting the overall success of the food program by ensuring adherence to client culture and expectations, health department regulations, and Bon Appétit standards for food quality, freshness, sustainability, and presentation. This role serves as the campus expert for Café Manager+ systems, menu transparency, recipe management, and nutritional integrity while providing leadership, training, and support to culinary teams.

Working closely with the Campus Executive Chef and Registered Dietitian, the Café Manager+ Lead ensures the accuracy of recipes, allergen information, ingredient statements, and nutrition data provided to guests. This position plays a critical role in maintaining menu transparency, recipe consistency, and operational excellence across all café locations.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Operations

• Promote and uphold Bon Appétit’s culture, culinary philosophy, and commitment to exceptional food and service.
• Support the Executive Chef in the overall management and success of café operations.
• Ensure all products and purchasing practices align with Bon Appétit sustainability standards.
• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with client and Bon Appétit contractual requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Café Manager+ Administration

• Serve as the campus subject matter expert for Café Manager+ systems and processes.
• Create and manage menus that align with Bon Appétit food standards, wellness initiatives, and campus goals.
• Maintain accurate recipes, including ingredients, yields, measurements, preparation instructions, and allergen information.
• Oversee menu management software to ensure guest-facing nutrition, ingredient, and allergen information remains accurate and current.
• Screen products for ingredient and allergen compliance and maintain data integrity within the system.
• Utilize Microsoft Office and web-based platforms to support menu planning, reporting, and communication.

Short Description

Recipe & Menu Integrity

• Review recipes for culinary accuracy, nutritional compliance, and consistency.
• Print and distribute weekly menus and recipes for all café locations.
• Collaborate with café chefs to review production needs, batch yields, and recipe adjustments.
• Verify recipe accuracy, preparation instructions, local chef notes, and menu icon standards before publication.
• Manage menu changes and substitutions while maintaining program compliance and transparency.
• Conduct regular follow-up to ensure recipes and production standards are consistently executed across all locations.

Training & Team Development

• Train, coach, and support chefs, managers, and hourly team members on Café Manager+ systems and recipe adherence.
• Develop and reinforce best practices related to menu transparency, nutrition information, and production consistency.
• Partner with culinary and wellness teams to ensure effective communication and program execution.
• Motivate and develop employees to achieve operational objectives and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Strong culinary knowledge and passion for food.
• Experience with menu planning, recipe development, and food production systems.
• Knowledge of nutrition, allergens, and menu transparency practices.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and training skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-based software applications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Success in this role is defined by the ability to ensure menu integrity, support operational excellence, maintain accurate guest-facing information, and provide leadership that drives consistency, quality, and exceptional service across all café locations.