Head Chef

Allentown, PA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $49,400.00 - $74,100.00

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

very few late nights and weekend hours

time off for most holidays

Paid Vacations

Competitive 401K with company match

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pet insurance

Job Description

Upper Crust Food Service is a specialized food service company dedicated to serving sororities and fraternities across the nation. Renowned for its commitment to freshness, quality, variety, and excellent customer service, Upper Crust Food Service began with a clear mission: to tackle the inconsistency and lack of professionalism often experienced in fraternity and sorority house kitchens. With many years of experience and a strong foundation rooted in providing great food combined with personalized service, Upper Crust Food Service has evolved into a trusted name, consistently preparing tens of thousands of meals weekly for students nationwide. As a recognized leader in the hospitality sector catering specifically to Greek life, the company embraces modern culinary practices while honoring traditional values and ensures every client receives not only top-quality meals but also a professional kitchen environment.

At Upper Crust Food Service, the role of Head Chef is pivotal in delivering the company’s mission of fresh, healthy Greek life food on a large scale. This full-time position offers a unique lifestyle that stands out within the hospitality industry, characterized by very few late nights and weekend shifts, providing a balanced work-life environment. Head Chefs are the creative forces behind menu planning and execution, working closely with clients and the management team to design and deliver from-scratch weekly menus that meet high standards of taste, presentation, and nutrition. The role involves overseeing all aspects of food preparation and kitchen operations, ensuring that the highest sanitation practices are upheld, coordinating kitchen staff schedules, training team members, and maintaining excellent communication channels with management and clients. This ensures that every dish not only meets culinary excellence but also aligns with the company’s values and customer expectations.

Being a Head Chef at Upper Crust Food Service means embracing the responsibility of managing a professional kitchen tailored to meet the dynamic needs of Greek life dining. This includes regularly engaging with chapters to incorporate their feedback and preferences, maintaining inventory and ordering supplies within budget, and ensuring compliance with all health and safety regulations. The role demands a passion for food and a commitment to quality, along with strong leadership abilities to foster a positive work environment for the kitchen team. If you are a classically trained Chef who thrives on creating flavorful, visually appealing meals and enjoys making a meaningful impact through your culinary skills, Upper Crust Food Service invites you to apply and become part of a company that values excellence, teamwork, and innovation in food service.

Job Requirements

ability to work well as part of a team
understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions
deal with challenging customers in a professional manner
demonstrate understanding and proficiency in various cooking methods, cuisines, ingredients, equipment, and procedures
show understanding of and commit to a professional appearance and positive attitude
maintain excellent record of kitchen and staff management
exhibit accuracy and speed in handling emergency situations and providing solutions
be familiar with the industry's best practices
3+ years in professional, high-volume food production or catering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience
ability to pass a background check
hold a valid manager level sanitation certification or obtain one within 30 days of employment

Job Qualifications

3+ years in professional, high-volume food production or catering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience
culinary degree is a plus
must hold a valid manager level sanitation certification or obtain one within 30 days of employment
ability to work well as part of a team
understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions
demonstrate understanding and proficiency in various cooking methods, cuisines, ingredients, equipment, and procedures
show understanding of and commit to a professional appearance and positive attitude
maintain excellent record of kitchen and staff management
exhibit accuracy and speed in handling emergency situations and providing solutions
be familiar with the industry's best practices

Job Duties

Prepare, design, and execute menus
conduct menu meetings with the chapter
create high-quality meals with excellent presentation and flavor
send photos regularly of meal presentations to management
maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room
wash kitchen utensils, equipment and dishes
ensure the kitchen operates in a timely manner
oversee and train kitchen staff, manage schedules, and assess performance with management's approval
order supplies in accordance with budgetary requirements and stock inventory
enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations
maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers
assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management
communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts
ensure compliance with all policies among staff