Assistant Executive Banquet Chef

Job Requirements

Starting Pay Range: $133,000

Bring Your Culinary Vision to Life as Our Assistant Executive Chef – Banquet Operations

Are you ready to shape the future of banquet and catering excellence? As the Assistant Executive Chef of Banquet Operations, you’ll play a key role in defining our culinary culture. This hands-on leadership role blends creativity and precision, guiding a talented team to deliver exceptional experiences for every event. From executing high-quality dishes to mentoring team members and driving performance, you’ll be at the heart of it all—elevating guest satisfaction and setting new standards in banquet dining.

What you will do as the Assistant Executive Banquet Chef?

Leading Operations

• Effectively supervises, directs and coordinates the activities of the Banquet Chefs, Sous Chefs and Line Staff, including through managing schedules, to meet business and operational demands. Provides direction for day-to-day operations for the Banquet Kitchen Team.
• Displays leadership in guest hospitality, demonstrates excellent customer service and creates a positive atmosphere for guest relations. Reviews guest satisfaction results and historical data and menus to ensure customer satisfaction and retention for returning groups.
• Determines food presentation by constantly monitoring execution of standardized recipes by all staff to ensure consistency and elimination of culinary drift.
• Provides guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. Actively participates in the recruitment, hiring and training of staff for each culinary role in Banquet Kitchen Operations.
• Holds underperforming staff accountable, creates improvement plans when appropriate and verifies disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to organizational policies.
• Effectively identifies the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills and delegate opportunities for others to display leadership while monitoring outcomes.
  
  

Promoting Creativity and Innovation

• Leads and enables our chefs through the vision of our enterprise leadership to create unique menu offerings. Reviews guest dining habits, requests and satisfaction results and other data to identify areas for improvement.
• Cultivates creativity amongst our chefs. Creates learning opportunities, core training, and continuing culinary techniques training for development of staff culinary skills and creativity. Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members allowing them to learn and grow while improving retention.
• Designs and plans menus, including to address special dietary requests such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy friendly options ensuring guests are catered to.
• Maintains consistent knowledge of culinary trends and techniques in Banquets and Catering to ensure that Banquet offerings remain relevant to the industry.
  
  

Communication

• Regularly meets with direct reports to provide guidance and direction, including with respect to setting performance standards and monitoring performance, to ensure such team members are aligned with the organization and Food and Beverage department vision.
• Utilizes communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others within the department to improve team member engagement, performance, development and idea sharing.
• Routinely meets with Sales Department to review Banquet Event Orders and upcoming Banquet Events in order to plan and set presentation standards for such events.
• Attend Pre-Convention Meetings with Event Organizers, Wedding Planners and other Stakeholders to provide and support service standards that ensure that the Banquet Culinary Department is meeting and exceeding expectations.
• Establishes and maintains open communications and collaboration with the Banquet Service Team.
• Conducts pre-shift meetings to communicate event details, provide guidance, direction and special instructions to team members and identify and address potential challenges for the Banquet Kitchen Team.
  
  

Financial Responsibilities

• Encourages sound financial/business decision making and builds efficiencies throughout the kitchens, including though coordination with, and feedback from, Banquet Chefs and Sous Chefs to achieve departmental goals and cost reduction. Reviews month end profit and loss data with Banquet Chefs to monitor financial performance and identify opportunities for improvement and/or establish performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc. Identify budget variances period on period and year over year.
• Participate in meetings with Purchasing Department and Vendors to identify market trends, new products in market and future pricing impacts to current product lines.
  
  

Verifying Food Safety and Code Compliance

• Communicates the importance of safety procedures, detailing procedure codes, verifying team member understanding of safety codes, monitoring processes and procedures related to safety, including, without limitation, with respect to Serve Safe and HACCP.
• Performs routine inspection of Banquet Kitchens and Equipment to ensure kitchens are maintained at a high level of sanitation and safety.
• Participates in Capex Budgeting process for areas of responsibility; develops key equipment needs, including for the replacement replacing of aging equipment and/or the replacement of existing equipment with more efficient equipment maintain and/or implement safety standards.
  
  

Who We Are

We are Turning Stone Enterprises, a dynamic organization with a diverse range of business operations. Among our prominent offerings is the Turning Stone Resort Casino, which has received the prestigious Best of New York Gaming Resort award for an impressive six consecutive years. Complementing this flagship property, we operate satellite casinos like YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, and The Lake House at Sylvan Beach. Beyond gaming and hospitality, our portfolio also includes convenience stores, three 18 hole PGA-level golf courses, and other unique ventures.

Work Experience

To be successful as the Assistant Executive Banquet Chef, you'll need:

• High School Degree or Equivalency. A degree in Culinary Arts is preferred.
• Proven experience as an Executive Banquet Chef within a large Banquet and Convention Facility.
• A minimum of 5-7 years related experience.
• Three to five years’ experience in a large volume commissary.
• Previous managerial experience.
• Reading ability; schedules, menu, policies, etc.
• Mathematical ability; budgets, payroll, etc.
• Computer skills; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Power Point.
• The ability to speak and understand English; continuous communication with a degree of professionalism and accuracy.
• Written communication skills; standard forms, employee documentation and data entry.
• Previous experience working in a guest service area.
• Experience in all aspects of a total kitchen operation in four- five star level of standard.
• Ability to attend needed training classes, trade shows and culinary competitions to improve technical skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to include days, nights, sunrise shifts, holidays and all weekends.
• Ability to stand/walk for long periods of time and lift up to 100 pounds.
  
  

What We Value

• Positivity – Team members who are passionate to learn, energetic to hit the ground running and willing to grow in a professional, team-oriented environment with a focus on guest service.
• Growth Opportunities – We offer a successful journey, including hands-on training and support to advance your career.
• Empowerment – We believe in our team members. With learning opportunities, career growth potential and recognition of outstanding performance, we encourage our team to take pride in their work.
  
  

Benefits

Why choose Turning Stone Enterprises?

• Paid weekly
• Variety of schedules
• Paid time off
• Tuition assistance
• Career-building professional development
• Discounts from dining to fuel to concerts
• Team Member appreciation events
• Quality healthcare and dental benefits
• A robust 401k retirement plan
• Dealer School
• Finance Scholarship Program
  
  

Why You Will Appreciate Us

At Turning Stone Enterprises, we prioritize the well-being and professional growth of our team members by offering an extensive array of benefits. From comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to a 401(k) and life insurance, we ensure your health and financial security. Our work-life balance support includes paid time off, paid holidays, and team member assistance programs. We’re also committed to wellness, with various programs and an upcoming 5,000-square-foot onsite medical center.

With over 4,500 team members across Central New York, we focus on delivering exceptional experiences for both our guests and staff. Our resources include training programs, complimentary shuttles, and career development initiatives, helping you reach your professional goals. Whether you're starting your career or advancing it, join us for a rewarding journey of growth and success at Turning Stone Enterprises. We look forward to welcoming you to our team!