Chef de Cuisine

About us:

From innovative menus and striking design to impeccable service and critical attention to detail, at Great Performances, we weave our mission into all we do. Serving New York City for over four decades, Great Performances has evolved from a waitress staffing agency to the leading catering, events, and hospitality companies in the greater New York area. We provide food services in an array of celebrated New York City cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Wave Hill, and The Apollo Theater. We are known for full-service catering and events, corporate workplace dining and amenity programs, and large-scale event and festival production. Great Performances is the nation’s first caterer to own and operate an organic farm, Katchkie Farm located in Kinderhook, NY. Progressive from the start, we consistently set the pace for industry best practices.

We are seeking highly motivated and talented individuals to join our team and to support our vision, mission, and values through everything they do. If you share our passion and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply. 

Our Vision: Building Community to Better Our World

Our Mission: Unleash Joy through Genuine Hospitality

Our Core Values:

Craftsmanship: developing new menus, designs, and moments to deliver engaging experiences to our clients and guests.

People: creating fair access, opportunity, and advancement for everyone. Our employees are our greatest asset.

Sustainability: upholding and elevating standards for sustainable behaviors that support our planet.

Collaboration: aligning with our clients’, colleagues’, and community’s visions to execute a successful experience.

Doing Good through Food: engaging in action around food access, health and wellness, education, and philanthropy. 

We are seeking a talented, organized, and experienced Chef de Cuisine to lead our kitchen operations and deliver exceptional culinary experiences. The ideal candidate is a strong leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about food quality, team development, and operational excellence. This role is responsible for overseeing kitchen staff, maintaining food safety and quality standards, managing inventory and purchasing, and ensuring all dishes are prepared and presented to the highest standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure prompt preparation, freshness, and quality of all dishes served.
• Maintain strict food safety, sanitation, and health department standards.
• Partner with the General Manager to ensure strong communication and collaboration between kitchen and service teams.
• Coordinate kitchen staff tasks, scheduling, and daily operations.
• Implement and enforce hygiene policies while monitoring equipment for cleanliness and efficiency.
• Develop new recipes, assist with menu planning, and oversee plating and presentation standards.
• Monitor staffing levels to meet service demands while maintaining operational and financial objectives.
• Recruit, hire, train, and mentor kitchen staff including cooks, food preparation workers, and dishwashers.
• Perform administrative tasks including inventory management, ordering food and equipment supplies, and submitting purchase orders.
• Establish and monitor performance standards to ensure consistency, efficiency, and productivity within the kitchen team.
• Obtain feedback on food and service quality and address guest or client concerns when needed.
• Purchase food and supplies from company-approved vendors and maintain proper inventory levels.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of managerial restaurant experience.
• Strong culinary background with professional references required.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen operations best practices.
• Proficiency in computer systems, including Microsoft Excel.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with the General Manager and front-of-house leadership.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Maintain a positive attitude and professional appearance.
• New York City Food Handler’s Certificate preferred.

Base salary: $90,000 - $110,000 per year, based on experience

Benefits: PTO, 401(k), medical, dental, and vision insurance, transit benefits, safe and sick time, and FSA (Flexible Spending Account)

Must be able to provide valid documentation that you are legally eligible to work in the United States.

Great Performance is an equal-opportunity employer. At Great Performances, we employ qualified individuals based solely on their ability, training, and experience. Great Performances does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based on race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Salary : $90,000 - $110,000