Chef

RDV Corporation•Grand Rapids, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Private Household Chef provides exceptional daily dining experiences and oversees culinary operations for the Principals across multiple private residences. The role includes menu planning, food preparation and presentation, personalized meal service, provisioning, inventory management, and kitchen maintenance while upholding high standards of quality, freshness, sanitation, and safety. The Chef develops an understanding of the Principals’ preferences, routines, dietary needs, and lifestyle to anticipate needs and provide personalized service. The role also creates welcoming dining experiences, especially for intimate gatherings and dinner parties. The Chef must be adaptable, discreet, organized, passionate about hospitality, comfortable with a flexible schedule, and willing to travel between residences, including extended stays. The Chef works primarily in Michigan during summer, travels occasionally to other residences in spring and fall, and spends winter primarily in Florida. Schedules are coordinated with the Principals and household team. Flexibility is required for varying days and hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, occasional last-minute adjustments, and extended travel away from the Chef’s primary residence.

Requirements

Variety of culinary and/or catering experience is required.
Excellent knowledge of household table etiquette, service, and entertaining protocol.
Flexibility in workdays and hours, including occasional last-minute scheduling adjustments.
Willingness and ability to travel to the client’s various residences.
Professionalism, pride, enthusiasm, graciousness, self-motivation, good listening skills, responsibility, dependability, integrity, and a neat appearance.
Attention to detail, organization, and follow-through in daily routines.
Maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding the family’s personal and business matters.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
Ability to frequently bend, stoop, reach, twist, and kneel.
Ability to regularly lift and carry up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds, with assistance or appropriate equipment when needed.
Ability to push, pull, and move kitchen equipment, carts, groceries, and other supplies.
Ability to work safely around heat, steam, sharp utensils, and varying temperatures.

Nice To Haves

Personal chef experience in a private household setting is strongly preferred.
A degree from a post-secondary culinary arts education program is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Prepare and serve daily dinner for the Principals and lunch as needed; prepare meals in advance for non-working days and periods when the Chef is not on site.
Coordinate food and meal readiness across residences, anticipating visits, travel schedules, and the needs of each home.
Plan and execute intimate gatherings and dinner parties, providing service ranging from casual to comfortably elegant; coordinate with household staff and outside caterers for larger events.
Serve personal guests and participants in business meetings held in the home.
Prepare nutritious, flavorful meals tailored to the Principals’ preferences, dietary needs, and allergies, incorporating new recipes and seasonal menus.
Provide appropriate household table etiquette and service, and present food and table settings creatively for casual or elegant dining.
Create warm dining experiences and provide attentive, unobtrusive service tailored to the Principals’ preferences and the occasion.
Source fresh, high-quality, seasonal ingredients from preferred vendors; manage inventory, purchasing, food costs, stock levels, and waste.
Maintain kitchen equipment, food preparation areas, and dining spaces for cleanliness, organization, and safety; complete end-of-day food storage, cleaning, equipment shutdown, and preparation for the next day.
Order, receive, and store food and kitchen-related equipment.
Order, receive, and stock guest homes with beverages, snacks, and breakfast items wherever the Principals and guests are staying.
Follow operating procedures for equipment, utensils, and machinery, and establish equipment maintenance schedules in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
Communicate effectively with the Principals and staff.
Undertake special projects as requested to support the efficiency of daily household operations.
Travel to provide services at the client’s various residences.