Position Summary
The Senior Production Chef – Major Events reports directly to Ridgewells’ Executive Chef working closely with all members of the Major Events and Ridgewells Culinary Leadership Teams to successfully plan and execute events. Will also spend significant amounts of time traveling to plan and produce events. The ideal candidate will have experience managing high volume, off-site catering culinary operations, is creative, organized, driven, detail oriented, responsive and above all else must thrive in a collaborative team environment.
Other responsibilities include, but not limited to:
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for management of on-site main production kitchen at the US Open.
- Responsible for budget preparation and cost controls, food production and production labor.
- Ensures all menu items are prepared in an organized, efficient and timely manner.
- Ensures established food production schedules are met by effectively managing employees to maximize productivity and meet labor budgets; assess labor needs on site with the ability to make on-the-fly adjustments to ramp up/down production as needed and within budget.
- Responsible for menu and recipe development for all division events.
- Works with the team to research and source local products and services for each event.
- Works closely with the Major Events team to plan and execute client menu tastings, develop training materials for traveling and locally hired culinary event staff on site, and handle last minute and special requests.
- Works with Culinary Operations Coordinator to ensure recipes and ingredients are accurately inputted into catering software (CaterXpert) to ensure accurate costs and efficient production.
- Works with division leadership and sales to develop new service concepts and set ups.
- Participates in the training of on-site culinary employees and ensure entire staff practices safe and sanitary food handling procedures per HAACP and ServSafe guidelines as well as the execution of any other market-specific health department requirements.
- Assist Ridgewells Headquarters Executive Chef as needed with production in Bethesda, MD main kitchen and works on-site at local DC area events.
- Performs other duties associated with the position that are reasonably assigned to support the overall needs of the business.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A degree from a culinary arts training institute is desired.
- At least five (5) years catering experience with a proven management record; ability to lead, train and motivate others a must.
- Strong culinary background / knowledge is required.
- Collaborative team player with a hands-on working style; thrives under pressure needed.
- Strong verbal and written communication, and employee-relation skills a must.
- Ability to organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines is required.
- A working knowledge of computer applications, specifically MS Excel, is required.
- Some travel, including up to 20+ consecutive days in June is required.
BENEFITS:
- Health insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Short and Long-Term Disability
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- 401K Retirement Plan
