Executive Banquet Chef

Guided by Enlightened Hospitality, Union Square Hospitality Group’s (USHG) philosophy puts employees first, creating an environment where talent thrives, guests feel cared for, and excellence is a daily standard.

Who you are:

The Executive Banquet Chef provides culinary leadership for banquet and event food production, ensuring that menus are planned, prepared, and executed to the highest standards of quality, consistency, presentation, and hospitality. This role reports directly to the Culinary Director and partners with outlet Executive Chefs, banquet and event teams, and purchasing to coordinate Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), production schedules, staffing, ordering, and service execution.

You are accountable for developing the team, managing food cost and waste, maintaining sanitation and safety standards, and delivering exceptional guest experiences across events of varying size and style.

What you’ll do:

• Champion Enlightened Hospitality through genuine care, attention to detail, collaboration, and a commitment to continuously improving the guest and team member experience
• Oversee food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation in accordance with approved recipes, BEOs, and quality standards, ensuring consistency, proper quantities, food safety, and timely execution
• Review BEOs, confirm menus, guest counts, dietary needs, and timelines, and coordinate staffing, equipment, production plans, and last-minute changes to ensure seamless event execution
• Lead, schedule, train, and coach banquet culinary staff, establish clear performance expectations, and foster a respectful, accountable environment that supports professional growth
• Manage food and labor costs, purchasing, inventory, production levels, and waste while monitoring performance, identifying variances, and implementing improvements to productivity and profitability
• Partner with event and service leaders to deliver exceptional hospitality, accommodate dietary restrictions and special requests, resolve concerns, and improve the guest experience through feedback
• Collaborate with the Culinary Director to develop and refine seasonal banquet menus, test recipes, manage menu costing, and balance creativity, quality, and efficient execution at scale
• Maintain compliance with health and workplace safety requirements, ensuring proper food handling, allergen management, temperature control, sanitation, and safe storage practices
• Maintain clean, organized kitchens, equipment, and storage areas while ensuring opening, closing, cleaning, and equipment-care procedures are consistently followed
• Coordinate with culinary, banquet, event, stewarding, and purchasing teams; communicate operational needs; and maintain accurate schedules, inventory records, and reporting
• Evaluate event outcomes, identify operational challenges and root causes, implement corrective actions, and perform additional responsibilities as needed to support operational success

What we need from you:

• 4+ years of Banquet Chef experience in a comparable luxury hotel, hospitality, or high-volume event environment, with demonstrated responsibility for banquet production, event execution, and culinary team leadership
• High school diploma or GED plus four years of relevant experience, or a two-year degree in a related field plus two years of relevant experience
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, culinary scheduling, inventory management, purchasing, and food-cost controls
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• English proficiency required; Spanish language skills preferred
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform the physical requirements of a culinary leadership role

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 Banquet Chef, you’ll enjoy: 

• Competitive pay : Annual compensation of $125,000 - $135,000 with eligibility for a bonus
• 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 
• Hospitality perks:  Annual dining credit and a 51% dining discount across the entire USHG family of restaurants 
• 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.