(Archived) Executive Chef

As the Executive Chef, you are responsible for the overall vision and performance of the IDEXX Hospitality Dining and Catering Culinary teams – a global facilities function. You will supply day-to-day direction, supervision and inspiration to the culinary staff and culinary operations and will collaborate across the organization to successfully deliver services to a diverse population. It is our expectation that you are an experienced leader who is up to date on culinary skills and trends and that you use this knowledge to create culinary experiences that will exceed customer expectations. The ideal candidate is motivated, passionate about food and has a strong desire to be part of an extraordinary team. Exceeding customer expectations is one of our guiding principles at IDEXX. Our credibility as a company relies on our ability to deliver quality products to our customers on time and without disruption to their business. IDEXX’s Worldwide Operations Team works to meet this challenge each day with a global network of distribution hubs and a focus on efficiency, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. What you can expect in this role You will collaborate with stakeholders to create, implement, and uphold the culinary vision of IDEXX Hospitality. You will assist stakeholders in developing projects and strategies to enhance dining experiences. You will be responsible for the oversight of multiple on- and off-site revenue centers and a full-service in-house catering team. You will oversee menu planning, pricing, inventory, ordering, food preparation, presentation, portioning and plate design. You will implement changes to menus, pricing, recipes, and cooking methods to improve upon consistency, food quality, attractiveness, and efficiency. You will train the culinary staff in cooking and serving methods, presentation and portion control; you will exhibit a hands-on approach to training and development, working alongside employees while demonstrating a commitment to their individual growth. You will establish an environment of team and individual accountability. You will lead by example and assist in cooking and preparing food when necessary and will maintain a clean, well-organized workspace. You will participate in professional organizations, conferences and training activities, representing the department as required or assigned. You will remain current with industry trends and participate in the development and training of staff of new concepts. You will hold culinary meetings to discuss feedback, menus/recipes, new trends, training opportunities, safety concerns and guidelines. You will foster teamwork, employee engagement, motivation, and open communication. You will coach and develop employees using a consistent approachable demeanor and clearly articulate expectations. You will remain flexible, and will problem solve with customer or employees as needed. You will use excellent customer service skills and professional etiquette to gain insight into customer feedback and respond to customers. You will make recommendations regarding employee matters including hiring, training, performance reviews, promotions, and disciplinary action up to and including termination. You will contribute directly to the departmental financial goals by effectively monitoring and establishing labor, inventory, food costing and pricing models, and respond to volume and market price fluctuations as needed. You will manage food, supplies, and equipment purchases and recommend appropriate inventory management practices. You will value safety and ensure your team always has safety top of mind. You will ensure compliance with all state and county health department and safety regulations and maintain high standards of sanitation as a unit priority. You will conduct routine inspection of preparation, storage, and service areas ensuring proper sanitation is maintained as well as the health and safety of dining guests and employees. You will ensure that all service equipment is operational and handled safely, reporting mechanical issues through ServiceNow. You will evaluate and refine traditional purchasing protocols to increase the sustainability of purchasing decisions and protect the environment by purchasing from local suppliers and others who support and practice sustainability. What you will need to succeed You have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience as a chef in a high volume, high quality operation with a variety of concepts and/or catering and banquet experience. Executive level experience is preferred. You have a degree in Culinary Arts from an accredited culinary school or apprenticeship program and/or equivalent experience. You are ServSafe certified. You are professional, confident, mature, creative, flexible and a highly organized team player with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously. You are passionate about local, regional, international, and ethnic cuisines and love to inspire others. You have comprehensive knowledge of culinary techniques, menu planning, recipe and menu development, dining trends, food ordering, budget and pricing. You have strong organizational and logistical skills coupled with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse team. You have exceptional verbal and written communication and customer service skills. You are proficient in MS applications- Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook; and ability to use menu management and productions system. You can meet the physical demands of the job – prolonged standing and walking, the ability to safely lift or move 50 pounds. You are comfortable interacting with multiple levels of management and understand the importance of honoring commitments and keeping confidence. You can work in a dynamic environment and can shift priorities and modify focus while multi-tasking.  You understand the impact the food service industry has on the environment and can inspire others to make choices towards a more sustainable future. Competencies include: Customer Focus, Drives Results, Collaborates, Values Differences, Situational Adaptability. Physical Demands Full use of hands including fingers to handle, feel, and use objects, tools and/or controls. Required to stand and walk on average of 5-10 miles per day. Moderate to heavy lifting in excess of 50 pounds as well as the ability to frequently move over 100 pounds on a cart, barrel, bin, or dolly. Specific vision requirements include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus. Ability to work overtime hours as required. Weekend hours may be required Physical Demands Full use of hands including fingers to handle, feel, and use objects, tools and/or controls. Required to stand and walk on average of 5-10 miles per day. Moderate to heavy lifting in excess of 50 pounds as well as the ability to frequently move over 100 pounds on a cart, barrel, bin, or dolly. Specific vision requirements include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus. Ability to work overtime hours as required. Weekend hours may be required Work Environment Office and kitchen environments Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, works in outside weather conditions, and also occasionally uses a ladder. Moderate noise level The employee is required to wear personal protective equipment including protective clothing, hearing protection, and safety glasses. Why IDEXX? We’re proud of the work we do, because our work matters. Every role at IDEXX contributes to enhancing the health and wellbeing of pets, people, and livestock. With over 9,000 global team members, customers in over 175 countries, and a fast-growing industry - we’re always looking for motivated and inspiring people to join us. We offer competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits. You’ll be part of a double-digit growth company in a quickly growing market and we are leading the way forward with innovative products, services, and a strong focus on our customers. IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.