Executive Chef

Executive Chef role at Highgate

Highgate Hotels is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Highgate has a 30‑year track record of innovation in the hospitality industry, providing expert guidance from planning and development to disposition. The company develops bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. It uses industry‑leading revenue management tools to drive performance and maximize asset value.

Edging the bright lights of Broadway and the calm of Bryant Park, The Knickerbocker is a legendary New York landmark reborn as the first luxury hotel in Times Square. The transformed hotel offers 300 luxe guestrooms and suites with stunning views and bespoke furnishings.

The Executive Chef coordinates, supervises and directs all aspects of the hotel's food production while maintaining profitable F&B operations and high quality products and service levels. The Executive Chef provides staff training, meets corporate quality standards, establishes food specifications, controls portions and recipes, and enforces sanitation. The Executive Chef also controls food and labor costs while maximizing guest satisfaction.

• Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.
• Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
• Coordinate and monitor all phases of loss prevention in kitchen areas.
• Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
• Monitor quality of all food product and presentation.
• Ensure preparation of required reports, including wage progress, payroll, revenue, employee schedules, and quarterly action plans.
• Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the kitchen and food production areas.
• Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs in all outlets.
• Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.
• Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate hotel standards.
• Understand, implement and monitor corporate promotions in outlets, including buffet and three‑meal concept standards.
• Know and enforce all local health department sanitation laws.
• Work with the director of F&B to create and implement menus.
• Design and implement employee cafeteria rotating menu and oversee cafeteria operations.
• Coordinate, supervise and direct the stewarding department.
• Compute daily food cost.
• Develop proper training and direction of departmental assistants in compliance with company standards of quality, specifications, portion control, recipes, employee relations, sanitation, etc.
• Understand daily forecasts and customer counts.
• Coordinate all par stock levels.
• Assess food portion size, visual appeal, taste and temperature of items served.
• Direct and train all chefs to ensure adequate operation in all outlets.
• Create menus for prospective clients.
• Review and approve weekly payroll.
• Check food purchases for proper ordering, quality and price structure.
• Oversee daily activities such as preparation for all food items, receiving daily inventories, log‑on report and food cost report.
• Communicate to engineering any physical maintenance problems.
• Assist catering sales on all special menus and price structures.
• Participate in required M.O.D. program as scheduled.

• A 2‑year, 3‑year or 4‑year culinary degree and at least 5 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field.
• Previous supervisory responsibility is required.
• Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.
• Long hours sometimes required.
• Medium work – exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive,…