Chef-de-Cuisine (CDC) / Head Chef - Wooden Paddle
Lemont, IL 60439
About the Job
- Do you have a knack for spotting talent and developing a dream team in the kitchen?
- Are you obsessed with making sure that every dish that leaves your kitchen is made 'just right'?
- Do you run a kitchen so clean, and so organized, that it sets the standard for everyone else to follow?
- Are you super comfortable keeping food & labor costs on-budget, and running a profitable kitchen?
- Do you love the challenge of inventing creative, seasonal dishes?
- Are you the type of person that takes your career seriously, but doesn't take yourself too seriously?
Yes?! Then YOU should join our team!
WHY WORK HERE?:
Here are some of the perks!
- PPO medical, dental, + vision Insurance with 50% company contribution
- 401K retirement savings plan w/ 3% company match
- 2 weeks of paid time off + 5 sick days
- Quarterly bonus potential, based on gross sales and attainable performance targets
- Flexible days off, typically back-to-back
- A generous, never-expires, $250 monthly food & drink allowance
- A 50% employee discount on food while you're working
- A 20% employee discount on food & drinks anytime you're not working, for you & your whole table
- Monthly gift card rewards for giving recognition to your team (& for getting it, too!)
- Access to lots of company-paid business coaching + resources
- As a company, we run on EOS; so we're a collaborative, strategic, and winning team (i.e. no more meetings that just waste your time - promise!)
- Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & your birthday off, automatically
- The opportunity to grow quickly with a forward-thinking company that regularly reinvests in itself and it's people
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?:
RESPONSIBILITIES
As our Chef-de-Cuisine, you'll be at the helm of kitchen operations. These are the results you'll be hired to accomplish:
» ① Hire & Develop a High-Performing Kitchen Team
Hand-pick your A-players, coach & develop your B-players, and encourage the C-players... to work somewhere else.
» ② Consistent Five-Star Food Quality
You'll make sure that every plate that leaves the kitchen is *chef's kiss* - definitely when you're there, and especially when you're not.
» ③ Squeaky Clean & Organized Kitchen
You'll be the captain of a kitchen so clean, you could *probably* eat off the floor, and a kitchen so organized, it's a masterclass in mise en place!
» ④ Close-to-Ideal Kitchen Costs
Maximize your P's and minimize your L's, bb! You'll be responsible for controlling food & labor costs in the kitchen.
» ⑤ Collaborative Menu Innovation
You'll work alongside (celebrity! But totally not an a-hole!) Chef Patrick Cassata to help create conversation-sparking dishes, season after season.
*As a disclaimer*: This is a new-ish position, in a rapidly growing company, in an always-changing industry. That means that this position and its responsibilities will continue to evolve. So, if you're change-adverse, this job ain't it.
That being said - if you're good with change, and are willing to try new things - you'll love this job, and it'll love you right back.
PAY
The total compensation for this position will likely fall between $67,500 - $72,000 / year. The base salary is $60,000 - $65,000 / year, and depends on relevant experience. After 90 days, this position is eligible for quarterly bonuses based on gross sales and hitting performance targets. The bonus potential for this position - based on current sales - is about $7,000 / year. The higher the sales, the bigger the bonus!
WORK SCHEDULE
This position is full-time and salaried, with a semi-set schedule that allows for flexibility. This position will work the busiest shifts of the week, based on daily forecasted sales and special events. Days off are typically back-to-back. Our Chef-de-Cuisine will work 5 days, and typically 50+ hours per week.
WINNING TRAITS:
The *best* candidate will have the following job-specific skills & traits:
- Resourcefulness / Initiative
- Training / Development / Coaching
- Creativity
- Detail-Orientation
- Organization / Planning
- Excellence
- Stress Management
- Verbal Communication
- Performance Management
- Being a Team Builder
- Enthusiasm / Passion
- A Track Record of Success in the Kitchen
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Here are some of our must-haves & would-like-to-haves:
- At least 3 years of high-volume restaurant experience in a Chef-de-Cuisine, or equivalent, role
- A Bachelor's degree in the Culinary Arts, or equivalent work experience
- Advanced knife skills & familiarity with all culinary techniques (grilling, roasting, braising, sautéing, baking, etc.)
- Previous experience with wood-fired cooking, a major plus!
- Must have a current ServSafe Manager Certification
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must have open availability
- Must have the ability to regularly work 50+ hours per week
- Must have a valid driver's license & sole access to a personal vehicle
- Familiarity with Toast, 7Shifts, & Margin Edge, a major plus!
Wooden Paddle is 11-years-young restaurant & catering company, started in 2013. (That's a whole middle-schooler ago!)
Our purpose, and the reason we exist, is to be 'The Place You Want to Be'.
Our niche, and the thing we work really freaking hard to do better than anyone else, is creating ✨ Super Fun Dining Experiences✨.
Our focus is shareable, wood-fired comfort foods , artsy cocktails , & good-time energy ♀️.
As a team, we're scrappy go-getters who don't take ourselves too seriously - but we take our food, drinks, and hospitality *extremely* seriously.
And we're all on a mission to hit 10 Million Good-Time Guest Experiences by 2033! Come for the pizza, stay for the party bb!
