Sous Chef | Full-Time | McCormick Place Convention Center

Spectra; Illinois; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a motivated Sous Chef to lead culinary operations at a premier venue. In this dynamic role, you will oversee kitchen staff, maintain high culinary standards, and ensure exceptional guest satisfaction. Collaborate with a diverse team to create memorable dining experiences while adhering to sustainability goals. This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, making it an excellent opportunity for culinary professionals looking to make a significant impact in the live event industry. Join a team that values diversity and innovation in a vibrant environment!

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred or 3 years of experience in culinary management.
• 2-3 years in special events or overseeing unionized employees preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary team and daily operations, ensuring quality and compliance.
• Manage training and development of associates to uphold culinary standards.
• Develop and maintain effective client and guest rapport for business relationships.

Skills

Culinary Management

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Team Collaboration

Client Relations

Education

Culinary Degree

3+ Years Related Experience

Job description

Oak View Group

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Position Summary

The Sous Chef to be the second in command in our kitchen, following our Director of Culinary Services specifications and guidelines. They will be responsible for all managing aspects of the assigned Kitchen and its personnel, ensuring the quality preparation of all menu items and proper handling/storage of all food items in accordance with OVG standards. The successful candidate will employ its culinary and managerial skills in order to maintain and enhance our customers’ satisfaction. The Sous Chef is responsible for developing and executing culinary solutions to meet production, presentation, and service standards.

This role will pay an annual salary of $55,000-$75,000.

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until May 26, 2025.

About the Venue

McCormick Place located in Downtown Chicago is the largest and most flexible convention center in North America. With over 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, the campus proudly hosts some of the world’s largest and most prestigious conventions, meetings, and trade shows, welcoming approximately 3 million visitors to Chicago every year.

Responsibilities

• Reports to and supports our Director of Culinary Services in overseeing the culinary team for daily culinary operations and special events.
• Oversees one or more kitchens onsite.
• Ensure that OVG standards are maintained at a superior level on a daily basis. Develops and updates policies and manuals, as related to the division/department, for implementation in the kitchen.
• Manage associates, training, and development of all associates to deliver the highest professional culinary standards.
• Develop a solid understanding and comply with unit’s Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Maintain and manage Union culinary and stewarding personnel to meet labor and production objectives.
• Oversee and maintain all costs including labor and food cost to ensure they are within budgeted guidelines.
• Support the OVG philosophy concerning hiring, employee relations, disciplinary action, training, counseling, evaluating, etc.
• Ensures proper culinary standards and techniques are in place for preparation of food items, including production, presentation, and service standards.
• Coach employees by creating a shared understanding about what needs to be achieved and how it is to be achieved, reward and recognize employees.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to maintain all staff records including training records, shift opening/closing checklists and performance data.
• Develop and maintain effective client and guest rapport for mutually beneficial business relationships.
• Aggregate and communicate regional culinary and ingredient trends.
• Consistent focus on margin improvement; understanding performance metrics, data, order, and inventory trends.
• Support, train and implement company’s sustainability objectives and goals. To include usage of Local and Minority Vendors as well as Carbon neutral/Negative products.
• Maintain integrity of the OVG menu; responsible for always maintaining food quality and safety of items.
• Full compliance with basic kitchen fundamentals: managing waste, standard menus, recipes and ingredients through managing customer driven menus and labor standards.
• Ensure accuracy of estimated food consumption for appropriate requisitions and/or food purchase.
• Ensure proper equipment operation and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with ServSafe and OVG Culinary standards, occupational and environmental safety policies in all culinary and kitchen operations.
• Comply with all applicable safety, health, and union policies, rules and regulations.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred or at least 3 years of related experience in a culinary management role required.
• 2-3 years of previous experience in special events, hospitality, or catering required.
• 2-3 years of previous experience overseeing unionized employees in a leadership role preferred.
• Requires advanced knowledge of the principles and practices within the food profession.
• Ability to maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial business relationships required.
• Must have excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Must be comfortable working in a collaborative team dynamic.
• Requires occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lbs. and ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and Holidays.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.