Performance Chef in Salem, Oregon at Courthouse Club Fitness

Job Title: Performance Chef

Job Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Senior Director of Nutrition

Position Overview

The Performance Chef serves as the culinary leader of the Nutrition division and is responsible for developing the food vision, menu strategy, nutrition philosophy, and public voice of the Courthouse and Little Lois Nutrition ecosystem.

This role bridges culinary excellence, performance nutrition, hospitality, and community engagement. The Performance Chef develops the products, meals, and experiences that define the Nutrition brand, working closely with the Director of Nutrition Operations and the Director of Nutrition Staffing to ensure those ideas are executed consistently and scaled across the organization.

The ideal candidate understands the connection between food, performance, recovery, body composition, energy, longevity, and daily lifestyle habits. They are passionate about creating food that is both nutritious and genuinely craveable.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership

• Lead the culinary vision for the Nutrition division.
• Develop menu strategies across catering, cafés, meal programs, and future nutrition initiatives.
• Create performance-focused meals and offerings.
• Design products that support health, recovery, longevity, and active lifestyles.
• Maintain culinary standards across all Nutrition operations.

Menu Development & Innovation

• Develop macro-conscious meal offerings for athletes, members, families, and the broader community.
• Create seasonal menus and new product launches.
• Improve recipes for nutrition, consistency, and profitability.
• Identify food trends and emerging opportunities.
• Support the growth of catering, meal programs, and Coffeebar offerings.

Nutrition Brand Development

• Help build a recognizable and trusted Nutrition brand.
• Collaborate on the long-term vision of Nutrition within Courthouse and Little Lois.
• Ensure food offerings align with the organization’s nutrition philosophy.
• Support member education through food, hospitality, and programming.

Community Engagement & Storytelling

• Serve as a public-facing culinary leader for the Nutrition division.
• Lead communication around food, nutrition, performance, and healthy living.
• Participate in video content, podcasts, interviews, social media, and community outreach.
• Help develop the Seeking Healthy content initiative.
• Break down the science of nutrition, macros, and balanced eating in ways people can understand and apply.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with the Director of Nutrition Operations on production systems, commissary execution, food costs, quality control, and scalability.
• Partner with the Director of Nutrition Staffing on training, food knowledge, service standards, and team development.
• Collaborate with Courthouse leadership on future wellness, nutrition, and hospitality initiatives.

Qualifications

• Executive Chef, Culinary Director, or comparable leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of nutrition, performance nutrition, recovery nutrition, and healthy food systems.
• Experience with menu development and food production.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to inspire teams and influence organizational culture.

Preferred Skills

• Sports nutrition certification or related education.
• Experience working with athletes, fitness organizations, or wellness brands.
• Healthy meal-prep or commissary production experience.
• Media, public speaking, or content creation experience.
• Passion for health, fitness, hospitality, and community engagement.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Complimentary Courthouse Club Fitness membership plus discounts on services
• Healthcare benefits (based on eligibility qualifications)
• Opportunities for growth within the Courthouse team
• Supportive, community-driven work environment
• Access to five club locations across the Salem and Keizer area