Executive Chef

MoMA's dining venues offer guests a world-class culinary experience woven seamlessly into one of the most celebrated art institutions in the world. The Terrace Cafe, located on the sixth floor, features shareable plates, fresh salads, sandwiches, and desserts alongside sweeping views of Midtown Manhattan. On the second floor, Cafe 2 brings a warm, family-friendly atmosphere to life with handmade pastas, artisanal cheeses, and kid-friendly classics served at communal tables. The cafes at MoMa reflect a commitment to exceptional experiences, where great food and great art go hand in hand.

Who you are:

The Executive Chef is responsible for driving operational excellence and ensuring a superior guest experience through excellent food and hospitality. The Executive Chef partners with the General Manager and Food and Beverage Director to set, meet, and exceed the goals of the business by ensuring alignment with the mission and goals of the business and the vision and core values of Union Square Hospitality Group. The Executive Chef is an ambassador for the Museum of Modern Art and must create a program that aligns with the goals and vision of the museum. The Executive Chef must possess strong leadership skills, a friendly yet competitive spirit, and a passion for creating delicious food, building high-performing teams, and delivering hospitality to all stakeholders.

What you’ll do:

• Consistently deliver a culture of Enlightened Hospitality to guests and team members
• Build and lead a high performing kitchen team and maintain excellence & hospitality throughout each day’s specific service periods
• Lead and coach the Sous Chef team in delivering consistent execution of food and timely flow of service through an effectively expedited service
• Continually enhance, refine, and update our culinary programming to maintain our standing as an industry leader
• Set the standard for all recipes, product, food preparations and food execution and hold the team accountable to meeting restaurant's specifications and commitment to culinary excellence, food cost metrics and food safety
• Develop a strong partnership with leadership of the Museum of Modern Art and identify ways to collaborate through current exhibitions, sustainability and museum operations.
• Partner with the General Manager to foster a positive, collaborative work environment for both the service and kitchen teams, ensuring clear communication at all times
• Provide coaching and guidance to all team members, ensuring that pathways for growth and development are attainable for all team members
• Consistently looks for internal and external opportunities to build our growing team in alignment with our goals of diversity, inclusion, and belonging
• Build trusting relationships with other USHG Leaders to foster communication, collaboration, support, and sharing of best practices for well-informed decision making
• Act as a partner to Home Office departments, leveraging subject matter expertise to ensure alignment and support roll outs, training, and communication of company-wide initiatives

What we need from you:

• 5+ years of culinary leadership experience in similar environment
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, restaurant scheduling, inventory and purchasing experience necessary
• English fluency and Spanish preferred, but not required
• Ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time

What you’ll get from us:

At Union Square Hospitality Group,  extending Enlightened Hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. We believe our people are our greatest ingredient.  Joining our team means becoming part of a culture rooted in care, creativity, and growth. As an Executive Chef, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay and bonus potential : Annual compensation of $115,000 - $125,000 plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus, with consideration for your experience and impact
• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus flexible spending options for healthcare and dependent care
• Time to recharge: Generous paid time off and paid parental leave to support life outside of work
• Investing in your future: A matched 401(k) plan to help you grow long-term savings
• Peace of mind: Life insurance, employee assistance programs, and exclusive access to primary care, mental health, and other wellness services.
• Support in times of need: Access to the USHG HUGS Employee Relief Fund, offering direct assistance to team members facing unexpected hardship
• Dining Credit : An annual dining credit to enjoy exceptional meals and experiences at any of our restaurants  
• Dining Discount: A 51% dining discount across the entire USHG family of restaurants to share unforgettable meals with friends and loved ones 
• Convenience & flexibility: Pre-tax commuter benefits for transit and parking
• Growth and community: Opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration with some of the most passionate people in hospitality.

Putting Enlightened Hospitality into Practice

Integral to our culture are our six behaviors. Our behaviors guide how we work together.

• We play to win with humble swagger.  Hospitality is a team sport where everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive and belong
• Turn over the rocks and always be connecting dots  to build uplifting experiences and relationships
• Center the salt shaker  with an unwavering commitment to excellence and the values that matter most
• Write a great next chapter.  The road to success is paved with mistakes well-handled
• Bring a charitable assumption  and err on the side of generosity
• Leave our campsite better than we found it;  always responsible for the impact of our wake

*The above represents the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your experience and other job-related factors.

The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive. This role may be required to take on other duties or projects as necessary to support organizational goals, in alignment with their skills, experience, and the evolving needs of the business.

#WORKWITHUS

Join the team at MoMA Cafes!

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.