Executive Chef

Workstream; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Workstream in Palo Alto is seeking an experienced Executive Chef with expertise in Mediterranean cuisine. The role involves overseeing food preparation, developing new recipes, and managing the culinary team to ensure compliance with quality and health standards.

The ideal candidate will have a Culinary Degree, advanced communication skills, and the ability to create Middle Eastern recipes from scratch, with at least 5 years of prior experience as an Executive Chef.

Qualifications

• Must be able to create Middle Eastern recipes from scratch.
• Expert knowledge in food preparation and sanitation regulations.
• Advanced communication, decision-making, and leadership skills.
• Prior experience as an Executive Chef in Mediterranean cuisine, minimum 5 years.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert in Hummus Mediterranean.
• Manage culinary staff and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Develop recipes and provide menu analysis.
• Train food production staff and oversee quality control.

Skills

Middle Eastern recipe creation

Food preparation expertise

Advanced communication skills

Decision-making and reasoning skills

Interpersonal leadership skills

Vendor relationship management

Nutritional knowledge

Computer applications skills

Education

Culinary Degree or equivalent

Tools

Servsafe Manager Certificate

Job description

We're a local bay area brand. We strongly believe that fresh food made in-house using only the finest ingredients just tastes better. We prepare our dishes using only EVOO, fresh herbs and spices and slow roast our naturally-raised meats rotisserie style.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Hummus Mediterranean subject matter food expert.
• Provides leadership and direction to unit culinary and service staff as needed.
• Develop recipes, testing and evaluation guidelines and ensures that current trends and best practices are considered.
• Provide menu review and analysis to ensure overall food cost targets are met.
• Manage staff to ensure timely, accurate, data and maintenance for centralized menu management system; vendor relationships, contract compliance, negotiations, appointments and cuttings; online nutrition information, student contact regarding allergies and special dietary needs, etc.
• Manage budgetary responsibility within the cost per meal and cost guidelines.
• Make key decisions regarding food purchases in support of Real Food and Sustainable practices without compromising food cost.
• Oversee and ensure compliance of food prep to QA standards and safety/security related to handling and preparation of food, third party certification, and recipe and product adherence.
• Ensure compliance for sanitation standards to meet all health codes.
• Facilitate quality control programs for optimal product quality.
• Develop and implement exceptional customer service standards.
• Establish culinary goals and vision for all operations.
• Create and provide continuous training to all food production staff and managers in food preparation, presentation, customer service, sanitation and safety.
• Maintain a high quality food production system.
• Provide training and advocacy for individual and team culinary challenges, catering operations and special events.
• Provide excellent communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with culinary staff, management and external stakeholders.
• Host vendors in product testing and sampling.
• Oversee implementation of new product roll out, education and training for unit operations.
• Facilitates training and development of all food production staff and managers in food preparation, allergy awareness, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, new culinary trends, presentation, customer service, sanitation and safety.
• Leads and directs culinary staff.
• Mentors and coaches culinary staff for improved performance and menu executions and cost management.
• Lead and participate in the planning and execution of high profile special events on and off campus, using innovative techniques and methods.
• Lead new recipe development.
• Provide excellent communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with culinary staff and management.

Required Qualifications

• Must be able to create middle eastern recipes from scratch, improving current product lines and new item roll outs.
• Expert knowledge in food preparation, nutrition, special needs and sanitation regulations.
• Advanced verbal and written communication, and active listening, dynamic flexibility, critical thinking, and ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.
• Advanced decision-making and reasoning skills, and ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, and perform operations analysis and quality control analysis.
• Advanced skill in effective interpersonal and work leadership skills to provide guidance to all levels of personnel.
• Ability to lead in food purchasing contracts, experience in building and maintaining quality vendor relationships.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of an Executive Team as well as inter-departmentally.
• Demonstrated skill in leading work groups, managing and supervising complex projects, leading and supervising students.
• Advanced nutritional and allergen knowledge.
• Intermediate computer applications skills.
• Prior experience in culinary food service operations as an Executive Chef in Mediterranean Cuisine with a minimum of 5 years industry experience, Culinary Degree or equivalent required.
• Allergen training and experience required.
• Has valid Servsafe Manager Certificate.
• Lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 50 lbs +.