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Executive Chef
Job Description
We are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Executive Chef to lead our culinary team in delivering exceptional dining experiences. The ideal candidate will possess extensive culinary expertise, strong leadership abilities, and a passion for innovation in food preparation and presentation. This role involves overseeing all kitchen operations, managing staff, ensuring food safety standards, and maintaining high-quality service in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Execute the current menu with precision.
- Team Leadership: Recruit, train, and manage kitchen staff, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
- Inventory and Cost Control: Monitor food costs, manage inventory, and ensure efficient use of resources.
- Quality Assurance: Maintain high standards of food preparation, presentation, and sanitation.
- Vendor Relations: Source high-quality ingredients and negotiate with suppliers to ensure cost-effective purchasing.
- Compliance: Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations and food handling standards.
- Customer Engagement: Occasionally interact with guests to gather feedback and enhance the dining experience.
Job Requirements
- Proven experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef in a high-volume kitchen.
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional training.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Expertise in various cooking techniques and cuisines.
- Proficiency in kitchen management software and inventory systems.
- ServSafe or equivalent food safety certification.
Additional Information
Working Conditions
- Fast-paced kitchen environment (750-900 covers in season)
- Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Standing for extended periods and lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Kitchen employs a kitchen staff of 28-30 with additional seasonal workers hired in the summer.
Meet Your Recruiter
Kurt Gundersen
Senior Recruiter
A few decades ago, Kurt accidentally wandered into recruiting and discovered he had a natural gift for solving complex hiring puzzles. He knows firsthand that sometimes the best career moves are the unplanned ones. With that extensive experience, he's become an industry expert who has successfully delivered over 2,000 quality hires across diverse sectors. He knows that finding exceptional talent requires skill, intuition, and strategic detective work. As a true generalist who's filled everything from specialized wine industry roles to cutting-edge tech positions, Kurt approaches each partnership like he approaches guitar playing: no rigid templates, just authentic conversations that help hiring managers articulate exactly what they need. His relationship-building style cuts through corporate formalities to get to the heart of what makes candidates and companies click, resulting in a 95% retention rate and saving clients an average of 60 days in their hiring process.
Kurt's collaborative approach ensures every placement feels like a partnership rather than a transaction, with hiring managers consistently praising his ability to understand unique company dynamics and deliver candidates who exceed expectations. When he's not solving staffing challenges, you'll find this musician releasing original music, hitting the trails for a run, or exploring Maine's wine scene. His philosophy reflects his adaptive approach: "Every company has unique needs. There's no cookie-cutter solution, and that's where I come in."
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