Executive Chef opportunity with Indian Hills Country Club – Mission Hills, KS

DZA Associates; Kansas; On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Executive Chef to lead culinary operations at their prestigious country club. This role requires a visionary leader who can inspire the kitchen team and elevate the dining experience for members. With a focus on creativity, quality control, and effective communication, the new Executive Chef will review existing menus and vendor contracts while driving innovation in food offerings. The club values collaboration and member satisfaction, making this an exciting opportunity for a culinary professional passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences. Join a supportive team and make a significant impact in a welcoming environment.

Benefits

401k Plan

457 Plan

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Dental Insurance

Performance Bonus

Conference Allowance

Dining Allowance

Relocation Assistance

Qualifications

• Engaged leader with strong culinary vision and management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and ensure quality control.

Responsibilities

• Drive dining offerings and ensure consistency of menu items.
• Review menus, programs, and pricing strategies for improvement.

Skills

Culinary Vision

Leadership

Communication Skills

Budget Management

Creativity

Education

Culinary Degree

Certified Executive Chef (CEC)

Tools

Culinary Equipment

Menu Management Software

Job description

History: In 1919, founding fathers brought forth a club they called the Country Club District Community Golf Association. These 50 like-minded golf enthusiasts initially began playing nine holes on land rented to them from the J.C. Nichols Company; however, these visionaries dreamed of owning their own golf course and so they began setting aside an annual real estate fund to turn their dream into reality. In 1922, the Club temporarily moved to what is now home of The Kansas City Country Club, where members continued golfing on this rented property. In 1926, the Club founders’ dream was realized and enough money was accumulated, without assessing the membership, to finance a new golf course on the 130 acres of picturesque ground we still enjoy today.

Legendary golf course designer, A.W. Tillinghast of New York City, was retained to design the new course. As one of the leading golf architects in the United States, Tillinghast had to his credit the design of some of the country’s finest golf courses, including Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, and Baltusrol in Springfield, New Jersey. After spending ten days on the grounds developing detailed plans for the course, Tillinghast enthusiastically pronounced it, “One of the greatest opportunities I have ever had for creating a notable golf course. Natural beauties abound, a stream, hills, valleys and wooded sections, that provide a most unusual design opportunity.”

Summary: Indian Hills Country Club is open to co-creating new and innovative ideas that drive member satisfaction. Drastic change is not needed in the operation. Members are looking for more experience-based visits. The question is, “how can we influence the members experience beyond just a great menu.”

Position Specific: Indian Hills CC is looking for a high-quality leader who can hold staff accountable and also develop his/her team to a higher level of performance through mentorship. This individual must be highly trustworthy, have humility and be easy to work with across all departments. A business acumen with great creativity and vision is also desirable. Must be highly organized and always planning ahead for service while still being able to deliver in the moment. He/she is a great communicator and maintains the, “We are only as good as our last service mentality.”

There are no major issues at IHCC. The retiring Chef is well-liked, and member food & beverage satisfaction is high. The new Executive Chef should fit in, observe and become a part of the team before making any substantive changes. The departing Chef was employed by the Club for 19 years.

Initial Focus:

1. Staff Review – Take time to understand the culture of the Club and get acquainted with the existing staff. Work alongside staff to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Grow staff out of the organization through development.
2. Review Menus, Programs & Pricing Strategies – Review of ingredients and recipes. The new Executive Chef will bring creativity to the menus and maintain the quality and variety of the food already in place. Increasing a la carte revenue would be a desirable outcome.
3. Review all Vendors & Contracts – The new Executive Chef is expected to evaluate current operations and vendors and provide recommendations for enhanced systems, controls, cost and quality of product and services in all areas.

Candidate Qualifications:

1. The position requires an engaged leader with a strong culinary vision who will drive dining offerings and ensure quality control and consistency of menu items.
2. The Executive Chef should have management and administrative skills with the ability to communicate with staff and Department Heads.
3. The Executive Chef is expected to produce budget assumptions each year for revenues and expenses and a zero-based payroll budget.
4. The new Executive Chef is passionate about all things culinary, and keeps current with the latest trends and equipment, and is able to produce new house-made items, creative buffet presentations and evolving menus.
5. The Executive Chef is expected to maintain visibility by walking around the dining rooms and the clubhouse interacting with the members.

The Club offers a competitive base salary, performance bonus and benefits package including a 401k and 457 plan, health, life & dental insurance, ACF Dues and Conference and Dining allowance. Relocation is negotiable. A CEC is preferred. Interested individuals should send resumes, a well-conceived cover letter, and supporting information (a digital Portfolio is encouraged).