Staff Writer

StarChefs is looking for a hardworking, cross-disciplined Staff Writer to join our small, but mighty editorial team. If you love restaurants, writing, and travel, want business/publishing experience, and can organize a spreadsheet with your eyes closed, this may be the job for you. Due to the nature of StarChefs unique voice and platform, restaurant or relevant industry experience is a requirement for this role. 

StarChefs is dedicated to supporting restaurant professionals and showcasing the country’s best food and beverage talent through print and digital publishing as well as our signature National Rising Stars Awards Program (which covers five cities or regions per year).

This position will be a key member of our editorial team, and the successful candidate will be able to work across all departments to organize, pitch, write, and edit content for the Rising Stars Magazine and StarChefs website. The role requires travel up to ten weeks per year (including weekend work). These trips will focus on editorial coverage of the five Rising Stars regions for the year, leading a deep dive into each market, and meeting with hundreds of chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and artisans. Superior writing skills, critical thinking, a developed palate, and an in-depth knowledge of and unbridled passion for the industry is required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to research for StarChefs' five core Rising Stars cities each year
• Research and collect key data points for the 500 industry professionals we meet each year
• Travel for ten non-consecutive weeks each year interviewing and tasting with industry professionals
• Build, organize, and draft tasting notes for each editorial visit/tasting
• Pitch, research, write, and peer edit articles for both print and web publishing
• Research, write, and peer edit biographies and recipes for both print and web publishing
• Draft and copyedit various photo and social media captions for digital publishing
• Work with editorial team to manage and track magazine assets including fact-checking and interviews
• Work with editorial team to manage email communications with various industry professionals

Requirements  

• A deep and unbridled passion for hospitality, restaurants, chefs, cooking, drinking, and eating
• 3 years experience working in restaurants or relevant industry experience (FOH or BOH)
• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in journalism, English, or another writing-intensive major)
• Proven ability and interest in writing and editing (and excellent note taking skills) 
• Proficiency in G-Suite applications (Google Sheets and Google Docs, in particular)
• Attention to detail, well organized, and time management/problem solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask
• Ability to enter data efficiently, timely, and correctly in order to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as a team player in an open office and at events

About StarChefs

At its core, StarChefs is a sounding board, a voice, and a trusted resource for the food and beverage industry. For 30 years, StarChefs has moved the industry forward with the sole mission to catalyze food and beverage professionals' success by giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to overcome challenges. StarChefs' original content is driven by hundreds of in-person tastings and interviews each year with the country's top up-and-coming chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and artisans. StarChefs’ print publication, the Rising Stars magazine, delivers recipes, industry trends, business intel, beverage knowledge, new techniques, and a fresh dose of  inspiration to professionals across the country. StarChefs has published more than 50,000 pages of industry-focused content, generating over 4 million page views annually. To further its mission, StarChefs hosts a variety of industry events throughout the year including its  Rising Stars Awards. The StarChefs Rising Stars Awards celebrate up-and-coming talent across the country in five rotating markets annually. 

Salary and Benefits: $50,000 to $55,000 per year (with PTO and healthcare benefits)