MightyRecruiterAn executive chef is in charge of running a kitchen. Chefs may work in a variety of settings, from fine dining restaurants to hotels. They are in charge of managing every aspect of the kitchen, including staff, menu creation, inventory and food quality.
In an executive chef job description, it is essential to highlight the level of management experience needed to do the job. In addition, superior cooking skills are also required. Applicants should be aware that this position requires long hours of standing and working in a hot, cramped environment.
Those who apply to be executive chefs should have proven experience in this field. As you create your executive chef job description, look over the following example for assistance and guidance.
Executive Chef Job Summary
Creativity, leadership and the ability to work under pressure are only a few of the skills you need to work as the executive chef at our five-star restaurant. Quality is key for us because we strive to serve only top-notch dishes and desserts. We are focused on providing an experience that cannot be found anywhere else through serving unique foods and creatively prepared items. If you love cooking and being able to let yourself create masterpieces in the kitchen, you are exactly who we are looking for. You will be provided with a highly trained and experienced staff to assist you in preparing meals that are sure to wow our guests.
Job Responsibilities
* Create menus and recipes to be prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner services
* Prepare foods according to set menus using a variety of cooking and baking techniques with the assistance of kitchen staff
* Check and monitor inventory, including managing the safe storage and preparation of food items and ensuring inventory is kept stocked according to the planned menus
* Secure contracts with food providers, including deliveries and guaranteed in-stock items, along with securing fresh foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats and fish, from local providers with a focus on using local and fresh foods as much as possible
* Adhere to the restaurant’s policies, procedures and codes about kitchen safety and safe food handling, along with guidelines for menu creation
* Hire, train and manage kitchen staff
* Work with guests to prepare special menus for events that include weddings, funerals and birthday celebrations
* Keep the kitchen area clean and sanitary while abiding by the latest regulations for safety and cleanliness
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
* At least six years of experience working as a chef
* At least two years of experience working in a fine dining establishment
* Proven leadership skills
* History of creating menus and designing new food recipes
Preferred
* Culinary degree or vocational training
* Baking skills
Executive Chef Job Responsibilities
Writing an executive chef job description is an involved process and a you should spend a large portion of your time focused on the job responsibilities section. Not only is this the section that will first grab the attention of jobseekers, it will also give them an understanding of what their supervisors will expect of them on a day-to-day basis. If the outline of core functions isn’t clearly and concisely written, you will confuse many readers and will either have a diminished number of applications, or the ones you receive will be from candidates without the necessary skills.
To prevent such confusion, it’s good practice to streamline this meaty portion of your executive chef job description by using a bulleted format. Bullets will make it easy to skim and simple to understand. Be sure to begin each point with a verb and focus on the position’s main duties rather than peripheral ones that won’t have as strong a role in the job.
Take a look at these examples of well-written executive chef job responsibilities:
- Check the quality of all food products, both raw and cooked, to ensure compliance with standards
- Process orders for food and equipment to ensure efficient kitchen operations
- Attend seminars and conferences to improve cooking abilities regularly and demonstrate to kitchen staff the techniques learned
- Oversee preparation of all dishes and ensure compliance with health and fire codes
Executive Chef Job Specifications
While the job qualifications and skills section isn’t the longest part of your executive chef job description, it is equally important. This section includes the minimum requirements to apply for the job, such as relevant work experience, education and hard or soft skills.
Just as with the remainder of the description, it’s crucial that you write the necessary criteria in very clear language. Misunderstanding on the part of the jobseeker means an inbox filled to the brim with applications from candidates who are not qualified for the position.
Avoiding this situation is as simple as sitting down with your senior leadership and having a detailed conversation about their expectations for executive chefs. Having a firm understanding of what leaders expect will make writing your executive chef job description that much easier and much simpler for jobseekers to understand. On the job description, you should separate the non-negotiable skills from those that are simply preferred to give applicants an even clearer vision of their eligibility for the job.
Check out these examples of executive chef job specifications:
- 5 or more years’ experience in food service preparation
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Exceptional leadership skills
- Extensive knowledge of ingredients, dishes and preparation techniques
