Head Chef

Cedar Rapids, IA, USA|

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $48,900.00 - $73,400.00

Benefits

Paid Vacations

time off for most holidays

401K with company match

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pet insurance

Job Description

Upper Crust Food Service is a distinguished catering company specializing in providing fresh, high-quality food services primarily to sororities and fraternities across the nation. Known for its commitment to freshness, quality, variety, and exceptional customer service, Upper Crust Food Service has established itself as a leader in the Greek life dining market. The company was founded with a strong dedication to addressing common issues faced by fraternity and sorority houses, especially the inconsistency and lack of professionalism often found in kitchen operations. Today, Upper Crust prepares tens of thousands of meals weekly, serving students with nutritious and appetizing meals that support their busy lifestyles and social activities with a firm focus on healthy, from-scratch food preparation.

Joining Upper Crust Food Service as a Head Chef means becoming an integral part of a team that values culinary excellence, professionalism, and personalization. Head Chefs play a pivotal role in creating, planning, and executing weekly menus made from fresh ingredients with input from both clients and management. The role is designed for passionate chefs who are classically trained and driven by their love for food and desire to make people happy by delivering outstanding culinary experiences. This position offers a remarkable work-life balance compared to typical hospitality roles, with very few late nights or weekend hours, enabling employees to enjoy personal time off and holidays.

The responsibilities are diverse, ranging from managing food preparation and kitchen operations to leading and training kitchen staff, maintaining strict sanitation standards, and ensuring excellent communication with management and clients. Upper Crust values teamwork, professionalism, and the ability to consistently deliver superior products and customer service. For those excited about creating innovative scratch-made dishes and contributing to a thriving national food service operation, this opportunity offers both professional growth and personal fulfillment.

In addition to a competitive salary and a supportive work environment, Upper Crust Food Service offers a suite of benefits that promote well-being and stability, such as paid vacations, holiday time off, comprehensive health, dental, vision, and pet insurance plans, as well as a competitive 401K plan with company matching contributions. This role is highly competitive and actively seeking dedicated candidates who meet the high standards of culinary craftsmanship and leadership necessary to support the company's mission and values. Prospective employees are encouraged to apply promptly to join a company that sets the benchmark for excellence in Greek life food services nationwide.

Job Requirements

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 pass a background check
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

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 pass a background check
demonstrate understanding and proficiency in various cooking methods, cuisines, ingredients, equipment, and procedures
ability to work well as part of a team
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 of meal presentations regularly to management
maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room
wash kitchen utensils, equipment, and dishes
ensure timely kitchen operations
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