Head Chef

Springfield, MO, USA|

Job Overview

Compensation

Salary

Range $45,500.00 - $68,200.00

Benefits

Paid Vacations

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pet insurance

401K with company match

time off for most holidays

Job Description

Upper Crust Food Service is a premier food service company that proudly specializes in serving Sororities and Fraternities across the United States. Known for its commitment to freshness, quality, variety, and excellent customer service, Upper Crust Food Service has earned a distinguished reputation in the hospitality and food service industry. The company was founded with a mission to address a common challenge faced by Greek life houses—lack of consistency and professionalism in kitchen operations. By focusing on fresh, from-scratch meals and outstanding personal service, Upper Crust Food Service has grown significantly, currently preparing tens of thousands of meals weekly for students nationwide. This scale of operation demonstrates the company’s dedication to excellence and its ability to consistently meet diverse client needs while maintaining the highest standards of food quality and customer satisfaction.

Upper Crust Food Service is looking for a talented and passionate Head Chef to join its team. This role is vital to the company’s promise of delivering fresh, healthy meals tailored specifically for Greek life communities. As a Head Chef, you will have the unique opportunity to craft, plan, and execute weekly menus that emphasize quality, flavor, and presentation. This position offers a rare combination of professional kitchen leadership with a lifestyle that minimizes late nights and weekend hours, making it an excellent fit for chefs who value work-life balance. The Head Chef will be responsible for leading food preparation and kitchen operations that align with the company’s core values of excellence, hygiene, professionalism, and customer engagement.

The role requires not only culinary expertise but also leadership skills to manage a kitchen team effectively. You will oversee all aspects of kitchen management, including staff training, scheduling, inventory control, ordering supplies within budget, and upholding stringent sanitation and food safety standards in compliance with local and state regulations. Communication with both management and clientele is key to success in this role, requiring timely updates, photo documentation of meals, and collaboration to ensure the menus meet client expectations. This makes the Head Chef position a dynamic blend of creative culinary work and operational management.

Candidates who thrive in this role are those who are classically trained chefs driven by a love for quality food and delivering satisfaction through delicious, well-presented meals. Upper Crust Food Service offers competitive benefits such as paid vacation, holiday time off, a strong 401K plan with company match, and comprehensive insurance coverage including health, dental, vision, and pet insurance. The company embraces diversity and equal opportunity in employment, ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace free from discrimination or harassment. If you are passionate about cooking from scratch, able to lead a team, and eager to contribute to a nationally recognized food service provider, this is an exciting opportunity to advance your career in a supportive and professional environment.

Job Requirements

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
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
Deal with challenging customers in a professional manner
Demonstrate understanding and proficiency in various cooking methods, cuisines, ingredients, equipment, and procedures

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
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 Duties

Prepare, design, and execute menus
Hold 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 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