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<>Executive Chef<>

Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen
Full-time
On-site
Palo Alto, California, United States

We're a local bay area brand. We strongly believe that fresh food made in-house using only the finest ingredients just tastes better. We prepare our dishes using only EVOO, fresh herbs and spices and slow roast our naturally-raised meats rotisserie style.


We are looking for an experienced Executive Chef for our soon to open Palo Alto location to grow with us!


Responsibilities:


• Serve as the Hummus Mediterranean subject matter food expert.

• Provides leadership and direction to unit culinary and service staff as needed.

• Provides input on annual performance reviews for culinary staff.

• Review new products for dining with unit managers.

• Develop recipes, testing and evaluation guidelines and ensures that current trends and best practices are considered.

• Provide menu review and analysis to ensure overall food cost targets are met.

• Manage staff to ensure timely, accurate, data and maintenance for centralized menu management system; vendor relationships, contract compliance, negotiations, appointments and cuttings; online nutrition information, student contact regarding allergies and special dietary needs, etc.

• Manage budgetary responsibility within the cost per meal and cost guidelines.

• Make key decisions regarding food purchases in support of Real Food and Sustainable practices without compromising food cost.

• Oversee and ensure compliance of food prep to QA standards and safety/security related to handling and preparation of food, third party certification, and recipe and product adherence.

• Ensure compliance for sanitation standards to meet all health codes.

• Facilitate quality control programs for optimal product quality.

• Develop and implement exceptional customer service standards.

• Establish culinary goals and vision for all operations.

• Create and provide continuous training to all food production staff and managers in food preparation, presentation, customer service, sanitation and safety.

• Maintain a high quality food production system.

• Provide training and advocacy for individual and team culinary challenges, catering operations and special events.

• Provide excellent communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with culinary staff, management and external stakeholders.

• Host vendors in product testing and sampling.

• Oversee implementation of new product roll out, education and training for unit operations.

• Facilitates training and development of all food production staff and managers in food preparation, allergy awareness, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, new culinary trends, presentation, customer service, sanitation and safety.

• Leads and directs culinary staff.

• Mentors and coaches culinary staff for improved performance and menu executions and cost management.

• Lead and participate in the planning and execution of high profile special events on and off campus, using innovative techniques and methods.

• Lead new recipe development

• Provide excellent communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with culinary staff and management.


Required Qualifications


• Must be able to create middle eastern recipes from scratch, improving current product lines and new item roll outs.

• Expert knowledge in food preparation, nutrition, special needs and sanitation regulations

• Advanced verbal and written communication, and active listening, dynamic flexibility, critical thinking, and ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.

• Advanced decision-making and reasoning skills, and ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, and perform operations analysis and quality control analysis.

• Advanced skill in effective interpersonal and work leadership skills to provide guidance to all levels of personnel.

• Ability to lead in food purchasing contracts, experience in building and maintaining quality vendor relationships.

• Ability to work effectively as a member of an Executive Team as well as inter-departmentally

• Demonstrated skill in leading work groups, managing and supervising complex projects, leading and supervising students.

• Advanced nutritional and allergen knowledge

• Intermediate computer applications skills.

• Prior experience in culinary food service operations as an Executive Chef with a minimum of 5 years industry experience, Culinary Degree or equivalent required.

• Allergen training and experience required.

• Has valid Servsafe Manager Certificate.

• Lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 50 lbs +.