Exec Sous Chef

Kitchen Manager

This position contributes to the success of Los Angeles Athletic Club ("Company") by creating positive experiences for every member and guest who visits the club by managing the kitchen and culinary staff, ensuring the quality preparation of all menu items and proper handling/storage of all food items in accordance with standards. Coordinate the purchase of all food and develop menus, maintaining approved food costs and labor costs.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain complete knowledge of and ensure associate compliance with all departmental/hotel policies and procedures.
• Interview, hire, train, recommend performance evaluations, resolve problems, provide open communication and recommend discipline and/or termination when appropriate.
• Establish the day's priorities and assign production and preparation tasks for staff to execute.
• Review daily menu specials and offer feedback to Sous Chefs.
• Review banquet event orders and make note of any changes.
• Communicate both verbally and in writing to provide clear directions to staff.
• Take physical inventory of specified food items for daily inventory.
• Requisition the day's supplies and ensure that they are received and stored correctly. Communicate needs with Purchasing and Storeroom personnel. Ensure quality of products received.
• Meet with the Executive Steward to review equipment needs, banquet plate up assistance, cleaning schedule/project status, health/safety and sanitation follow up.
• Ensure that staff report to work as scheduled; document any late or absent employees.
• Ensure that each kitchen work area is stocked with specified tools, supplies and equipment to meet the business demand.
• Ensure that recipe cards, production schedules, plating guides, photographs are current and posted.
• Ensure that all staff prepares menu items following recipes and yield guides, according to department standards.
• Monitor performance of staff and ensure all procedures are completed to the department standards; rectify deficiencies with respective personnel.
• Observe guest reactions and confer with service staff to ensure guest satisfaction.
• Conduct frequent walk throughs of each kitchen area and direct respective personnel to correct any deficiencies. Ensure that quality and details are being maintained.
• Develop new menu items, test and write recipes.
• Assist Catering department with developing special menus for functions; meet with clients as requested.
• Review sales and food cost daily; resolve any discrepancies with the Controller.
• Ensure that excess items are utilized efficiently.
• Oversee and direct training of new hires in specified phases of the kitchen operation. Maintain an ongoing training program for existing staff. Reevaluate positions in the kitchen and make changes wherever necessary.
• Interview and hire new personnel according to hotel policies and standards.
• Prepare weekly work schedules for all kitchen personnel in accordance with staffing guidelines and forecasted labor costs. Adjust schedules throughout the week to meet business demands. Prepare daily/weekly payroll reports.
• Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.
• Perform any other job related duties as assigned.
• Budgets: Develops and manages all department budgets; profitability, operations, payroll, etc.
• Employment: Makes hiring decision, sets salary, sets job description, applies disciplinary actions, and makes termination decisions.
• Payroll: Approves staff timecards, time off, and status changes.
• Expenses: Approves department expense up to approved amount set by Finance Department, vendor contracts, and equipment.
• Manage, model, set tone, and guide employees in the company's culture, values, policy, and service expectations; promote Company and department initiatives, policy, procedures in a positive and motivational manner.
• Ensure employees' appearance is neat and professional (proper uniform and nametag as required) and demeanor is respectful and professional at all times.
• Supervise department staff daily activity while at work; ensure all tasks and services are consistently performed efficiently, on a timely manner, and in accordance with company policy and guidelines; coach proactively to ensure proper performance; resolve conflict between employees and with customers on a timely basis; escalate employee/customer issues to management as necessary.
• Hold employees accountable for results and service quality; enforce job expectations, training, coaching, and make discipline recommendations to Department Manager in a timely manner for all staff policy violations and not meeting service expectations.
• Assist in maintaining adequate staffing level; report resignations and staffing needs in a timely basis to Department Manager; screen candidates and make hiring recommendations of individuals who are well qualified and embody the company values.
• Develop staff and encourage professional and personal growth through providing hands-on training, coaching, and mentoring towards meeting personal, department, and company business goals.
• Efficiently manage cost-containment; ensure efficient use and accurate inventory of supplies, minimize payroll cost by staffing based on business need, ensure staff take meal breaks on time, and plan ahead for planned vacations and leaves of absences.
• Safeguard confidential information properly; ensure work area is efficiently secured and confidential information related to employee, customers, business partners, and company are stored securely in a timely basis and only discussed with others as necessary for business purposes and allowed by law.

Personnel Management:

• Supervise, coach, counsel, and manage performance of staff; work with Human Resource department to hire, discipline, and discharge employees; conduct regular performance evaluations as per Club standards.
• Prepare work schedules, assign work, and oversee the work product (while minimizing overtime and call-in hours).
• Review all payroll timesheets for areas supervised and submit them in a timely manner for final approval.
• Enforce sound safety and housekeeping practices.
• Manage facilities staff to deliver expected service levels within the prescribed budget.
• Respond to problems in a tactful and expedient manner; resolve employee issues through problem resolution.
• Responsible for identifying training needs and motivating staff to perform at a high level.
• Manage departmental performance against agreed targets and budgets, and within policies and standards.
• Responsible for monthly safety inspections and training the staff on safety and emergency procedures.

Consistently Adhere to the Los Angeles Athletic Club Core Service Standards:

• Exemplify high-quality hospitality by making every member, guest, and business partner feel welcomed, valued, respected, and listened to; greet at every encounter, offer assistance to anyone who appears in need, escort individuals to correct destination.
• Take responsibility for maintaining an uncompromisingly clean Club; maintain your work area neat and clean, clean after yourself in employee and member areas, be proactive in maintaining member areas neat and clean by performing minor clean up as needed (i.e., cleaning minor food and liquid spills, storing forgotten exercise equipment, wiping equipment, etcetera); and promptly report needed repairs, potential safety issues, significant cleaning jobs to housekeeping, cleaning, and/or engineering department.
• Follow through with resolutions to problems from beginning to end; break away from your regular duties if needed to follow through on resolutions.
• Be knowledgeable of Club information; maintain sufficient and updated information to be able to easily answer questions from members and guest thoroughly from beginning to end.
• Practice personal hygiene: wear clean and pressed clothing, and proper uniform if required by your position.
• Use proper and welcoming telephone etiquette; do not screen calls, answer calls by the 3rd ring, smile while you speak.
• Reply to emails the same day you receive them.
• Anticipate and comply with member needs and record their preferences.
• Be an ambassador of the Los Angeles Athletic Club in and outside the workplace; always represent yourself and the club professionally and with respect.

Ensure a Safe Work Environment:

• Comply with the Company Health and Safety (H&S) processes while working on projects, initiatives, and other work-related duties; perform job duties in a way that will not cause danger to self or others, or violate local, state, federal, environmental regulations.
• Promptly correct or report any hazard, potential hazard, or unsafe work condition to the Director of Facilities, and/or People & Culture; wear protective equipment when required; ensure work location is kept safe, clean, and organized.

Initiate Professional Growth:

• Consistently evaluate work for efficiency, quality, alignment with the Company's service standards, and compliance with Company policies and procedures.
• Seek out opportunities to enhance personal