Executive Chef

SSA Group, LLC•Louisville, KY

2d•$70,000 - $75,000

About The Position

SSA Group at Louisville Zoo is hiring an Executive Chef to manage the culinary operation. The role leads kitchen and dish room staff, directs food production, develops menus and recipes, manages ordering and inventory, and ensures food quality, sanitation, safety, and compliance. The Executive Chef works with the General Manager on forecasting, staffing, payroll, and financial performance, and maintains positive relationships with the client, vendors, and team members. The position also supports sustainability and conservation practices, inclusion and belonging, and community engagement.

Requirements

Five years of chef experience in a high-volume restaurant, country club, catering operation, or cultural attraction venue.
Culinary Arts degree.
ServSafe certification.
Knowledge of HAACP.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate with the client, Resident Area General Manager, and headquarters personnel.
Proven leadership and team-building skills, including the ability to develop teams and foster partnerships.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to stay organized.
Financial management, merchandising, analytical, planning, and leadership skills.
Flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
Computer skills for basic office functions.
Physical ability to stand for extended periods and move and handle boxes weighing up to 35 pounds, including lifting.
Ability to work varied hours and days, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Responsibilities

Interview, hire, evaluate, reward, and coach kitchen personnel.
Develop culinary training programs and ensure staff complete required SSAfety training upon hire.
Train kitchen personnel in safe equipment operation, food production, and food safety practices.
Assist the General Manager with weekly and monthly sales forecasting.
Direct and coordinate production and dish room staff.
Maintain a positive working relationship with client staff.
Manage employees in accordance with state and federal labor laws.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment and uphold company policies and procedures.
Deliver SSA EXTRA Guest Service to guests and clients.
Supervise period-end inventory for food and beverage areas.
Direct and participate in daily preparation of standard and gourmet food, including menu items for special functions.
Monitor and track cooking and holding temperatures.
Establish equipment maintenance schedules, provide safety training, and facilitate facility and equipment maintenance and repairs.
Ensure consistency and quality across operations; plan menus and develop recipes, ingredients, and serving portions based on market trends, customer preferences, and nutritional considerations.
Inspect food preparation and service quality, food appearance, sanitation, cleanliness, and employee appearance across locations.
Order food products and assist with shipping, receiving, distribution, and vendor communications.
Evaluate raw food quality and ensure the quality of finished products.
Implement and enforce sanitary food handling, cleanliness, and kitchen or dining-area maintenance practices.
Comply with food safety, health, and safety regulations.
Process invoices and coordinate with the office team to ensure vendors are paid within terms.
Manage culinary operational functions within the unit.
Control food costs through purchasing specifications, storeroom requisitions, storage requirements, standardized recipes, and waste control procedures.
Prepare operational reports and analyses, identify progress and trends, and make recommendations.
Analyze sales and inventory to maximize opportunities.
Manage payroll and controllable profit within established guidelines, and meet payroll budget expectations through effective staffing coverage.
Schedule appropriate staffing levels based on budget and business forecasts.
Work toward sales, per-capita, and controllable budget targets.
Incorporate sustainable resources into culinary selections and support company and client sustainability and conservation guidelines.
Promote an inclusive and supportive unit environment, remove barriers, and support team members’ growth and opportunities.
Support community efforts through hiring, engagement activities, and opportunities to give back.
Perform other tasks as necessary.

Benefits

$75 monthly cell phone stipend.
Flex Time Off; no accruals, with employees encouraged to schedule time off as needed within business scope.
Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and other voluntary benefits for employees and their families; employee premiums apply.
401(k) program with a 15% company match, subject to eligibility requirements.
Employer-sponsored short-term and long-term disability benefits.
Paid parental leave, including up to 6–8 weeks fully paid leave for birthing parents and up to 120 hours of SSA-paid leave for qualifying reasons, including parental bonding and serious family medical conditions.
Up to five days of paid bereavement leave.
On-demand pay access to a portion of earned wages before payday.
Meal plan and employee discounts where applicable.
Paid sick leave in accordance with applicable state and local laws.