Banquet Chef

Westin Hotels & Resorts; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Westin Hotels & Resorts in Houston seeks an experienced banquet culinary leader to oversee all food preparation for events, lead the banquet kitchen team, and ensure top quality, presentation, and compliance with food safety standards.

The role focuses on coordinating menus, purchasing, scheduling, and plating for catering events while maintaining guest satisfaction and budget adherence.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; 4 years experience in culinary, food & beverage, or related area.
• 2-year degree in Culinary Arts or Hotel/Restaurant Management with 2 years related experience.

Responsibilities

• Determines how food should be presented and creates decorative displays.
• Attends daily Banquet Event meetings to review culinary requirements.
• Checks quality of raw and cooked foods to meet standards.
• Develops new applications, ideas, and presentations.
• Ensures compliance with Food & Beverage policies and procedures.
• Manages BEO process including menu development, pricing, tracking and ordering.
• Plans food quantities and plating for banquet functions.
• Prepares and cooks foods for events and special guests.

Skills

Culinary Arts

Food & Beverage

Menu Planning

Education

High School Diploma or GED

2-year Culinary Degree (Culinary Arts/Hotel & Restaurant Management)

Job description

Job Summary

Exhibits culinary talents by personally performing tasks while leading the banquet food preparation staff and managing all food‑related catering functions. Accountable for coordinating menus, purchasing, scheduling, food preparation and plating for catering events. Responsible for delivering a consistent, high‑quality product with an appetizing presentation. Works to continually improve guest and employee satisfaction while maintaining the operating budget. Must ensure sanitation and food standards are achieved.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED; 4 years experience in the culinary, food and beverage, or related professional area.
• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Culinary Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 2 years experience in the culinary, food and beverage, or related professional area.

Ensuring Culinary Standards and Responsibilities Are Met

• Assists in determining how food should be presented and creates decorative food displays.
• Attends daily Banquet Event meetings to review culinary requirements.
• Checks the quality of raw and cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
• Develops, designs, or creates new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Ensures compliance with all Food & Beverage policies, standards and procedures.
• Estimates daily Banquet Event Order production needs.
• Follows proper handling and right temperature of all food products.
• Maintains food preparation handling and correct storage standards.
• Manages BEO process including menu development, pricing, tracking and ordering.
• Manages food quantities and plating requirements for all banquet functions.
• Plans food quantities and plating requirements for all banquet functions.
• Prepares and cooks foods of all types, either on a regular basis or for special guests or functions.
• Recognizes superior quality products, presentations and flavor.
• Supports procedures for food & beverage portion and waste controls.

Managing Culinary Teams

• Communicates production needs to key personnel.
• Communicates regularly with employees to ensure performance expectations are clear.
• Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Ensures and maintains the productivity level of employees.
• Ensures employees understand expectations and parameters.
• Ensures property policies are administered fairly and consistently.
• Identifies the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Identifies the educational needs of others, develops formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Leads shifts while personally preparing food items and executing requests based on required specifications.
• Serves as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.
• Supervises and coordinates activities of cooks and workers engaged in food preparation.
• Supervises and manages employees. Manages all day‑to‑day operations. Understands employee positions well enough to perform duties in employees' absence.
• Supervises banquet kitchen shift operations.
• Utilizes an "open door" policy to identify and address employee problems or concerns.
• Utilizes interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.

Maintaining Culinary Goals

• Achieves and exceeds goals including performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc.
• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Manages to achieve or exceed budgeted goals.

Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service

• Empowers employees to provide excellent customer service.
• Improves service by communicating and assisting individuals to understand guest needs, providing guidance, feedback, and individual coaching when needed.
• Manages day‑to‑day operations, ensuring the quality, standards and meeting the expectations of the customers on a daily basis.
• Provides services that are above and beyond for customer satisfaction and retention.
• Responds effectively to guest problems and complaints.

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities

• Conducts training when appropriate.
• Ensures employees are cross‑trained to support successful daily operations.
• Ensures disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to Standard and Local Operating Procedures (SOPs and LSOPs).
• Ensures disciplinary procedures and documentation support the Peer Review Process.
• Participates in training staff on menu items including ingredients, preparation methods and unique tastes.
• Reviews staffing levels to ensure that guest service, operational needs and financial objectives are met.
• Trains employees in safety procedures.

Additional Responsibilities

• Analyzes information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Attends and participates in all pertinent meetings.
• Provides information to supervisors, co‑workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e‑mail, or in person.

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non‑discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law. At Westin, we are committed to empowering guests to regain control and enhance their well‑being when they need it most while traveling, ensuring they can be the best version of themselves. To achieve the brand mission of becoming the preeminent wellness brand in hospitality, we need passionate and engaged associates to bring the brand’s unique programming to life. We want our associates to embrace their own well‑being practices both on and off property. You are the ideal Westin candidate if you are passionate; you are active and take pride in how you maintain your well‑being; you are optimistic; you are adventurous. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.