Chef de Cuisine

Compensation Type

Yearly

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands.

Location

Discover more sun and more fun! Escape to a tropical beachfront paradise complete with everything you need for the perfect getaway, including delicious dining, beachfront bars, relaxing comforts, and endless activities. Here you’ll stay at one, play at two — with two connecting resorts right on the soft white sands of St. Pete Beach. Whether you’re looking for family fun, a romantic retreat, a group getaway, or anything in between, it’s all here at TradeWinds Island Resorts.

Overview

Follow your passion all the way to paradise at TradeWinds Resort, a Tampa Bay Times Top Workplace for seven years in a row! TradeWinds features two destination resorts just 200 flip flops from one another along the gorgeous Gulf Coast on St. Pete Beach, a Top-Ranked US Beach.

The Chef De Cuisine is responsible for ensuring that all meals coming from the kitchen are well prepared regarding quality, consistency, eye appeal, taste, and food cost. He/she is expected to provide training for all staff; meet corporate quality standards; and assist in establishing and enforcing food specifications, portion control, recipes and sanitation. The Senior Restaurant Chef is also responsible for controlling food and labor costs while maximizing guest satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.
• Keep an immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
• Coordinate and monitor all phases of loss prevention in kitchen areas.
• Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
• Monitor the quality of all food products and presentations.
• Ensure preparation of required reports, including (but not limited to) wage progress, payroll, revenue, employee schedules, quarterly actions plan.
• Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the kitchen and food production areas; hot food from the main kitchen and bakery, and cold food from the pantry.
• Make cooks aware of daily forecasts and customer counts so that they can be adequately prepared to serve both hot and cold food on time.
• Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs in all outlets.
• Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.
• Attend all meetings as required.
• Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate Hotel standards.
• Understand, implement and monitor corporate promotions in outlets, including buffet and three-meal concept standards.
• Know and enforce all local health department sanitation laws.
• Work with the Executive Chef and Director of F&B to create and implement menus.
• Design and employee cafeteria rotating menu and oversee cafeteria operations.
• Assess food portion size, visual appeal, taste and temperature of items served.
• Check all stations at the end of every shift for proper food storage and sanitation.
• Review and approve weekly payroll.
• Check food purchases for proper ordering, quality, and price structure.
• Oversee daily activities such as preparation for all food items, sanitation of the outlets, receiving daily inventories, log-on reports, and food cost reports.
• Prepare daily food production sheets.
• Cut meat, poultry, and seafood according to daily business
• Strong understanding of menu development, design, and costing, with a focus on profitability and consistency.
• Effectively manage labor, scheduling, and staffing levels to optimize productivity and control costs.
• Lead team development and performance, creating clear growth plans and opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of related progressive experience; or a culinary graduate with at least 3 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field.

• Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.

• Long hours are sometimes required.

• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.

• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.

• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.

• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.

• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.

• Attend all hotel required meetings and training.

• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.

• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.

• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.

• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.

• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas, and assist in implementing solutions.

• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying, and solving problems as necessary.

• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.

• Perform other duties as requested by management.

Benefits

We are pleased to offer to our full-time associates a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and financial future.

• Medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance401(k) Retirement Plan with employer matching contributions
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave (provided in accordance with applicable law)
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Educational opportunities / Tuition reimbursement
• Paid jury duty leave, personal leave, medical leave, and military leave in accordance with applicable law

For Employees Based in Washington:

• 8 paid holidays per year
• Up to 20 days of paid vacation per year, based on classification and length of service
• Paid Sick & Safe Time accrues at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, with up to 72 hours of unused time carried over from one anniversary year to the next.

For Employees Based in Colorado:

• 8 paid holidays per year; employees working in the City of Denver receive 64 hours of designated holiday time per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of paid vacation per year, based on classification and length of service
• 6 days or 48 hours of Paid Sick Leave per year, accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

For Employees Based in California:

• 8 paid holidays per year
• Up to 20 days of paid vacation per year, based on classification and length of service, capped at 1.5x annual accrual rate; non-supervisory employees working in the City of Los Angeles accrue up to 22 days of Compensated Time Off, based on length of service capped at 192 hours of combined PST and CTO.
• Paid Sick Time accrues at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, unused time is carried over from one anniversary year to the next up to a maximum of 80 hours; employees working in the City of Los Angeles are provided 40 hours of Paid Sick Time annually on their anniversary, unused time is not carried over from one anniversary year to the next.

Please note that certain benefits described above for associates in Washington, Colorado, and California may vary for associates covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement(“CBA”). For such associates, eligibility for and the terms and conditions of benefits are governed by the applicable CBA and any applicable plan documents, and may differ from the benefits described above. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency, the terms of the applicable CBA and governing plan documents will control, as applicable.

**The above-referenced benefits do not apply to part-time positions

Posting Date

This job opening was posted on October 5, 2026 and will remain open for at least 75 days.