Executive Sous Chef

Knott's Berry Farm; Buena Park (CA); On-site; USD 70,304 - 90,500; Full time

Job summary

Knott's Berry Farm is seeking an Executive Sous Chef responsible for food production across in-park locations, catering events, and central productions in Buena Park, California. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and significant culinary experience, overseeing a large kitchen team while ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.

This role requires an Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts and 6-10 years of relevant experience. Flexibility to work nights and weekends is vital for meeting business needs.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of international cuisine and food products.
• A minimum of 2 years experience as a pastry chef is highly desired.
• Must read, write and speak fluent English; bilingual in Spanish highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all food is produced according to quality standards.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef on menu development.
• Develop and execute yearly budget for assigned cost centers.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines.
• Manage food ordering and inventory.
• Oversee hiring, training, and performance management of staff.
• Communicate department status to the Executive Chef.
• Commit to guest service in daily work.

Skills

International cuisine knowledge

Pastry chef experience

Knowledge of kitchen equipment

Fluent in English

Bilingual English and Spanish

Event organization skills

Flexible working hours

Ability to pass drug tests

Ability to pass background checks

Education

Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts

Job description

Overview

The Executive Sous Chef is responsible for coordinating the production of food for all in‑park locations, picnics and catering events, and central productions. It is inherent that the Executive Sous Chef possesses the ability to quickly and authoritatively delegate job tasks to a large work force, making certain that all staff who is undertaking duties is performing them efficiently and safely. Essentially, he or she is responsible for planning and directing food preparation in the kitchen as well as supervising a large degree of kitchen staff, ready to seize control of any situation at a moment’s notice. The Executive Sous Chef must have comprehensive knowledge of managing PAR levels, budgets, and scheduling as well as other administrative tasks.

Salary range: $70,304 - $90,500 / annually

Responsibilities

• Ensures that all food and beverage product in the park is consistently produced in accordance with established quality standards including taste, temperature, and presentation; taking immediate appropriate corrective actions as deficiencies are detected to control levels of production, waste and spoilage.
• Collaborates with Executive Chef on menu development to ensure park menus keep pace with changing public tastes, trends, and food cost goals, including the research, development, testing and sampling of new recipes and putting the chosen recipes into production by park staff. Maintains all product and menu information throughout the park.
• Develops and executes yearly budget for assigned cost centers which meets or exceeds goals for revenue generation, cost control (cost of goods, other costs & labor) and profit margins. This includes conducting weekly and quarterly inventories to accurately identify costs and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures that all facilities and employees meet all health and safety guidelines established by law and the Company, taking immediate corrective actions as appropriate. This includes conducting routine inspections of employees and facilities to ensure all Health Code requirements are consistently being met and appropriately corrected; and implementation and maintenance of appropriate temperature logs for food and equipment at all park facilities.
• Orders food and supplies according to attendance projections and utilization levels to ensure timely availability of needed items; maintains inventory levels using FIFO method in all park facilities; takes appropriate and immediate corrective actions to address temporary shortages and immediate meets.
• Manages all aspects of the employment relationship with assigned staff members including hiring, training, coaching, counseling, daily oversight, performance management, scheduling, timekeeping, one‑on‑one weekly staff meetings; adherence to all Six Flags and park policies and procedures; and legal compliance with all local, state and federal laws.
• Communicates department status to Executive Chef as needed, but at least daily. This includes operational issues, employee concerns, guest complaints, special requests, losses, and any other relevant reports in order to maintain daily operations.
• Demonstrates and enforces a commitment to guest service in all aspects of daily work including the work of assigned staff, ensuring staff follows all established guest service guidelines.
• Ensure that all product for picnics and catering events are ordered on a timely manner. Also, assist in all picnic and catering events as needed.
• Adheres to and enforces all Six Flags and specific Park policies and procedures, including safety, attendance and EEO policies, and demonstrates commitment to customer service in all aspects of employment.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Associate's Degree (2 year College or Tech School) Culinary Arts

Experience

6 ‑ 10 Years Related Experience Culinary/Food & Beverage

Minimum Age

At Least 21 Years of Age

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of international cuisine and food products, ability to match wine and beer with food to create appropriate pairings.
• A minimum of 2 years experience as a pastry chef is hightly desired.
• Knowledge of major kitchen equipment, including stoves, bakery ovens, refrigeration, industrial mixers, slicers, and dish machine.
• Must read, write and speak fluent English. Bilingual in English and Spanish highly desired.
• Extensive knowledge of multistage banquet events, ability to organize multiple outlets
• Ability to work nights, weekends and holiday periods to meet business needs.
• Ability to pass a mandatory (or random) drug test, per Company policy, unless prohibited by state or provincial law.
• Ability to pass a background check, if 18 years of age or older, which may include, but is not limited to, credit, criminal, DMV, previous employment, education and personal references, per Company policy, unless prohibited by federal, state, or provincial law.