Head Chef

Job Description

The Dominican House of Studies, a Catholic seminary of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominican friars), seeks an experienced and mission-aligned Head Chef to oversee all culinary operations for a residential community of approximately 65 seminarians, faculty, and guests. The Head Chef plays a vital role in the preparation of food, supervising the kitchen staff, and ensuring a clean, hospitable, and orderly environment that supports the intellectual and spiritual life of the house. The seminary provides meals for its residents five days a week, three times a day, as well as Sunday (one large brunch meal at midday) and Saturday (lunch and dinner).

Responsibilities
Plan, prepare, and execute daily meals that are nutritious, well-balanced, and of consistently high quality.

Supervise, train, and schedule kitchen staff to ensure an efficient and professional kitchen culture.

Manage food ordering, inventory control, and vendor relationships with attention to quality, timely delivery, and cost stewardship.

Oversee all aspects of kitchen management, including cleanliness, safety, and compliance with health regulations
Maintain kitchen equipment and coordinate maintenance as needed.

Collaborate with seminary administration to support special events, feast days, and guest hospitality
Develop menus that respect liturgical seasons, fasting and feast days, and dietary needs.

Qualifications
Proven experience as a head chef or in a comparable culinary leadership role with demonstrated excellence in preparing meals.

Strong organizational and managerial skills, with experience supervising and motivating staff and hiring/replacing staff as needed (in tandem with seminary administration).

Knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen best practices.

Ability to plan menus and manage inventory within a set budget.

Strong communication skills as well as respect for and comfort working within a Catholic religious community.

Flexibility to accommodate the rhythms of seminary life, including special liturgical occasions.

Ability to work flexible hours, including at least some weekend hours.

Preferred Qualifications
Several years of experience cooking for institutional or residential communities (seminaries, nursing homes, schools, or similar).

Formal culinary training or equivalent professional experience.

Familiarity with seasonal, from-scratch cooking.

Managerial experience within the food service industry and knowledge of budget management.

Ability to evaluate and advise the seminary administration on staff performance and to help build, develop, and retain a strong kitchen team.

Compensation and Benefits
Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position offers the opportunity to work in a stable, mission-driven environment with a regular residential community.

To Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter outlining relevant experience and interest in the position along with salary requirements.

About the Employer

The Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., is a studium, or seminary, of the Order of Preachers serving the Province of St. Joseph. Consisting of both the Priory of the Immaculate Conception and a Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, its mission is to form Dominican friars in the Order's evangelical traditions of prayer, preaching, and the arduous study of sacred truth.