Executive Kitchen Leader — High-Volume & Events

American Place Casino; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K

Educational Tuition Reimbursement

Ventra Program

EAP programs

Job summary

American Place Casino in Waukegan, IL seeks an Executive Kitchen leader to oversee daily kitchen operations, staff supervision across hot, cold, pastry, and expo stations, and ensure top food quality and safety. You will mentor chefs, drive menu development, and coordinate with sales teams for events.

The role requires a culinary arts degree or equivalent, 6+ years in hospitality, and strong leadership. On-site, full-time with competitive benefits and advancement opportunities.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of successful experience within the hospitality industry, preferably in fine dining.
• Leadership, team building and implementation skills.
• Culinary Arts degree or advanced culinary arts certification is preferred.
• Bilingual is a plus (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Directly manage sous chefs and pastry chefs, guiding their supervision of kitchen staff across all departments.
• Oversee staff selection, onboarding, training, scheduling, and daily work assignments.
• Act as a coach and mentor by setting clear performance objectives, conducting regular reviews, and providing consistent feedback.
• Administer corrective actions and maintain documentation of performance-related matters.
• Monitor daily production across all kitchen departments to ensure alignment with event guidelines and brand standards.
• Conduct regular kitchen walk-throughs and random food tastings to maintain quality, consistency, and safety.
• Establish and enforce portion sizes and controls to minimize waste and ensure accurate food preparation.
• Taste products daily to ensure flavor, presentation, and consistency standards are met.
• Attend field events and tastings as needed, providing hands-on leadership and culinary expertise.
• Train staff on proper sanitation and food safety procedures in compliance with ServeSafe and internal guidelines.
• Ensure proper uniforms and hygiene practices are followed at all times.
• Maintain strict adherence to Blue Plate’s cleaning, maintenance, and safety policies.
• Monitor kitchen equipment and facilities; recommend and oversee repairs or replacements as necessary.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef to develop new menu items and share culinary updates with staff and sales teams.
• Review event orders with Field Chefs to ensure proper preparation methods and presentation.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of standard operating procedures, including recipes, food photos, and usage of the CaterXpert kitchen module.
• Participate in bi-weekly production meetings with sales and operations teams to confirm event details.
• Assist with ordering food and cleaning supplies, using order guides and purchase orders as required.
• Manage staffing levels and make adjustments based on business volume and event demands.
• Create and manage kitchen staff schedules, approve PTO, and oversee payroll processing.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and compliance training for new culinary team members.
• Report to work in proper uniform as outlined in the Back of House Dress Code Policy.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support kitchen operations and business needs.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Implementation skills

High volume food sales

Bilingual (preferred)

Education

Culinary Arts degree or advanced culinary arts certification

Job description

American Place Casino in Waukegan, IL seeks an Executive Kitchen leader to oversee daily kitchen operations, staff supervision across hot, cold, pastry, and expo stations, and ensure top food quality and safety. You will mentor chefs, drive menu development, and coordinate with sales teams for events.

The role requires a culinary arts degree or equivalent, 6+ years in hospitality, and strong leadership. On-site, full-time with competitive benefits and advancement opportunities.