Executive Chef

Primary Objective

Reporting to the Executive Dean-Washburne, the Executive Chef is responsible for leading and managing the daily culinary operations of the Restaurant, Café/Bakery, and catering related functions for the WCHI Enterprise. This role is pivotal in enhancing guest and employee/student satisfaction while maximizing the financial performance across all operational areas. The Executive Chef plays a crucial role in recruiting and retaining talented staff, fostering a collaborative work environment, optimizing team productivity, and seamlessly stepping in to fill any staffing gaps when team members are absent. Performs related duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Oversees kitchen operations while maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment for staff and students.
• Provides comprehensive training to kitchen staff on food preparation techniques, safe handling procedures, equipment operation, and adherence to food safety and sanitation regulations, in alignment with CCC guidelines and regulatory standards.
• Addresses any issues or concerns promptly and effectively, fostering a culture of proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement within the kitchen team.
• Manages food supply deliveries, creates distinctive dishes, and maintains a focus on timely service, freshness, and dish quality.
• Oversees and ensures compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Reviews and enhances existing SOPs as required to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• Ensures strict adherence to hygiene policies and standards throughout all areas of the kitchen and dining facility. Conducts regular inspections of kitchen equipment, surfaces, and utensils to verify cleanliness and sanitation levels.
• Designs new recipes, plans menus, and selects plate presentations.
• Assesses staffing needs to achieve service, operational, and financial objectives. Assists in hiring and training kitchen personnel, including cooks, food preparers, and dishwashers.
• Conducts various administrative duties, including inventory management of food and equipment supplies within established guideline, as well as completing purchase orders for necessary items.
• Develops performance standards and metrics for all kitchen staff, outlining expectations and benchmarks for quality, efficiency, professionalism, and teamwork.
• Gathers feedback on food and service quality and addresses any customer concerns or complaints promptly and effectively.
• Instructs WCHI students about kitchen operations within the restaurant industry and other food preparation domains.
• Represents WCHI at community events, conferences, and other relevant forums to promote the school's restaurant, catering and educational missions. Performs other marketing and promotional duties as needed.
• Develops and tests recipes and techniques for food preparation and presentation, to ensure consistent high quality while controlling food costs, exercising portion control across menu items served. Assists in establishing menu selling prices.
• Compiles essential data for the budget within the designated area of responsibility. Projects annual expenses for food, labor, and waste costs, and closely monitors actual financial outcomes. Implements corrective measures as needed to ensure alignment with financial objectives.

Qualifications

• Associates Degree from an accredited college or university in Culinary Arts with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to obtain State of Illinois Food Handler's Certificate, where applicable.
• Certificate of Completion from an Approved Culinary Institute.
• Advanced understanding of culinary principles and practices.
• Proficiency in human resources management, including staff development and supervision.
• Experience in training and supervising employees, organizing work assignments and schedules, and prioritizing tasks.
• Excellent knowledge of back-of-house (BOH) systems, ordering and inventory management.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines effectively.
• Flexibility to work on-call, shifts, after hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Knowledge of planning and scheduling techniques.
• Knowledge of supplies, equipment, and/or services ordering and inventory control.
• Knowledge and enforcement of safety procedures.
• Expertise in planning a variety of menus.
• Ability to coordinate quality assurance programs in area of specialty.
• Ability to develop and test recipes and/or techniques for food preparation/presentation.
• Proficiency in ala carte and function set-up procedures.
• Strong cooking and food preparation skills.

Pay

Salary Range: $63,394-$80,000. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as other factors such as internal equity.

Schedule

Full Time. Flexibility to work on-call, shifts, after hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.