Executive Chef - Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
About The Position
Proof of the Pudding is seeking an Executive Chef for the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Dallas, Texas. The chef leads culinary production and service, ensuring dishes meet the company’s standards and that events deliver high-quality food, safety, and guest experiences. The role includes overseeing purchasing, ordering, inventory, budgets, food costs, and culinary expenses, as well as hiring, onboarding, scheduling, training, and coaching the culinary team. The chef works closely with front-of-house and off-premise events teams to support dining service and high-volume or special events. The position operates in a fast-paced dining environment with guest and kitchen activity. It involves frequent movement through dining, service, kitchen, and event areas, prolonged standing, occasional lifting, and interaction with guests and staff. The role requires adherence to company uniform requirements and wearing non-slip shoes. The listed salary is $60,000 per year. Full-time eligible employees receive Basic Life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability coverage at no cost, and may elect optional medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short-term disability, accident, critical illness, and hospitality indemnity benefits.
Requirements
- At least 2 years of experience working in a restaurant or similar role.
- ServSafe certification, or availability to receive training.
- Knowledge of and comfort using Microsoft Office applications.
- Must live near the Dallas, Texas area.
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- Strong time-management and organizational skills.
- Working knowledge of a variety of cooking equipment.
- Strong customer-service skills and willingness to exceed client needs.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to learn and adapt quickly.
- Firm understanding of food-safety practices, including TCS, TILT, temperature logs, and cleaning and sanitizing.
- Knowledge of food preparation and food service, including executing BEOs, reading production sheets, and completing tasks.
- Ability to multitask and produce consistent products in high volume.
- Ability to maintain upscale guest experiences while managing fast-paced, high-volume service environments.
- Ability to stand for long periods and move throughout kitchen, dining, service, and event spaces.
- Ability to bend, lift, scoop, and carry food items and equipment, including lifting approximately 40 pounds.
- Manual dexterity to operate cutting tools and kitchen utensils.
- Adherence to company uniform requirements; non-slip shoes are required.
Responsibilities
- Lead production, preparation, and execution of dishes that reflect Proof of the Pudding’s culinary standards.
- Ensure safety and sanitation in all kitchen and food-service areas.
- Maintain the morale of the kitchen and culinary team.
- Follow food-safety procedures when preparing hot and cold foods.
- Ensure food-contact surfaces, dishes, small wares, equipment, and food-preparation surfaces are properly cleaned and sanitized.
- Communicate professionally with guests and provide customer service.
- Maintain high standards of service, safety, and food quality for each event.
- Monitor food quality and safety, comply with health regulations, and manage waste to support cost control.
- Support off-premise events with culinary production, setup, and execution for high-volume or special events as needed.
- Assist the Executive Chef with financial and food-cost goals, budget controls, and tracking culinary expenses.
- Oversee purchasing, ordering, and inventory management to maintain appropriate product levels, cost efficiency, and alignment with culinary standards.
- Lead the culinary team through scheduling, hiring, onboarding, training, and ongoing coaching.
- Maintain a strong front-of-house presence and partner with service teams to provide a polished dining experience and exceptional service for diners and tea guests.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Benefits
- Basic Life and AD&D coverage at no cost for full-time eligible employees.
- Long-term disability coverage at no cost for full-time eligible employees.
- Optional medical insurance.
- Optional dental insurance.
- Optional vision insurance.
- Optional Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage.
- Optional short-term disability coverage.
- Optional accident coverage.
- Optional critical illness coverage.
- Optional hospitality indemnity coverage.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
