Head Chef

careers-ucfs; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive 401K with company match

Health, dental, vision, and pet insurance

Paid vacations

Time off for most holidays

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service in Tallahassee, Florida, seeks a talented individual for kitchen management. Responsibilities include menu design, staff training, and maintaining high standards of food safety and sanitation. The ideal candidate has over 3 years of experience in high-volume food production, strong proficiency in cooking methods, and a commitment to teamwork.

Additionally, candidates should have the ability to manage kitchen operations efficiently while ensuring a positive atmosphere. This role supports a healthy work-life balance by offering fewer late nights and weekends, along with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Ability to remember and apply instructions.
• Demonstrated proficiency in various cooking methods.
• Must be familiar with industry best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute menus.
• Train kitchen staff and manage their performance.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation and food safety standards.

Skills

Teamwork

Customer service

Cooking methods proficiency

Professional appearance

Emergency problem-solving

Education

3+ years in high-volume food production or catering

Culinary degree

Manager level sanitation certification

Job description

What’s in it for you?

• Very few late nights and weekend hours
• Time off for most holidays
• Paid vacations
• A competitive 401K with company match
• Health, dental, vision, and pet insurance

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare, design, and execute menus
  • Menu meetings with the chapter will be required.
• Create high-quality meals with excellent presentation and flavor.
• Send photos regularly of meal presentations to management.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room.
• Wash kitchen utensils, equipment and dishes.
• Ensure the kitchen operates in a timely manner.
• Oversee and train kitchen staff, manage schedules, and assess performance with management’s approval.
• Order supplies in accordance with budgetary requirements and stock inventory.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.
• Ensure compliance with all policies among staff.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions.
• Deal with challenging customers in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate understanding and proficiency in various cooking methods, cuisines, ingredients, equipment, and procedures.
• Show understanding of and commit to a professional appearance and positive attitude.
• Maintain excellent record of kitchen and staff management.
• Exhibit accuracy and speed in handling emergency situations and providing solutions.
• Be familiar with the industry's best practices.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 3+ years in professional, high-volume food production or catering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Culinary degree is a plus.
• Must hold a valid manager level sanitation certification or obtain one within 30 days of employment.

Special Demands:

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals.

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.