Serving Lancaster County Since 1929!
Few companies can claim over 95 years in business, but we can at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. We owe our ongoing success to our exceptional staff and solid management team who are dedicated to an excellent guest experience.
Here is your opportunity to be part of a dedicated team at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.
Our business is booming, and we are seeking outstanding team members who take pride in their work, and ownership of the position to ensure we are living up to our high standards and providing a friendly guest experience.
What we expect from you:
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A friendly, professional demeanor toward coworkers and guests – after all, our mission is to make people feel valued. We expect that of you, and we do our best to make YOU feel valued as well!
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Self-starter who owns the responsibilities of the role.
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A commitment to show up on time for every shift - ready to work hard alongside your team members.
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Your dedication to our values of diversity, integrity, excellence, accountability, community, and especially your willingness to have FUN!
Here’s what we offer to you:
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Competitive pay.
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Excellent benefit package and employee perks.
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Ability to earn unlimited employee referral bonuses.
- Ability to work in other business units within the hospitality group to make extra cash or gain new work experience. The more you know, the more you grow!
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A “work-to-live” not a “live-to-work” workplace!
Our Mission: Make people feel valued.
Our Values: Diversity, Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, Community and FUN!
Position Summary
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Chef to join our team at Smokehouse BBQ and Brews! The Chef will play a pivotal leadership role in overseeing all culinary operations of the restaurant and catering services at Smokehouse BBQ and brews. This position requires a focus on creating exceptional guest experience through innovative, high quality food offerings, while also managing financial performance, kitchen operations, and staff development. The successful Chef will be a strategic collaborator, working with other department heads to ensure seamless integration of food and beverage service with overall guest experience in mind. Through a hands-on leadership style, the Chef will develop, coach, and train employees while maintaining a healthy culture, keeping morale high. By using accountability, fairness, and consistency, the Chef oversees compliance with established policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
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Develop a cohesive menu to align with culinary trends and future concept change.
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Create and execute featured menu items for seasonal menu refreshes.
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Launch training roll outs for new menu items with all team members.
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Ability to price out and analyze menu items to ensure proper food cost.
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Ensure the appropriate level of food production, reducing waste through the proper use of guest projections.
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Responsible for ordering food and beverage products and maintaining rotation.
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Monitor and ensure productivity of the kitchen team by directing and planning the day's assignments and tasks.
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Ensure standards, processes and checklists are being followed and completed properly and in a timely manner.
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Practice ServSafe food handling procedures and standards, training staff to these standards.
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Ensure safety and sanitation standards are being met on a consistent basis.
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Ensure food product quality and consistency by way of recipes.
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Ensure kitchen equipment is being used and maintained properly.
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Offering solutions to operational problems while on duty
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Participate in forming and evaluating policies pertaining to the restaurant's operations which help shape a positive culture, high morale, and promote an inclusive environment.
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Communicate staff issues and needs to the General Manager and aid in forming positive and fair solutions to these issues to maintain a healthy and happy workplace pursuant to company policies and handbook.
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Aid in all staffing responsibilities including, but not limited to, training, developing, coaching, performance management, and termination of teammates.
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Jump into position and "get your hands dirty" when the situation requires running the line during peak times.
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Take charge of the line or expo during peak meal periods
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Review and understand weekly, monthly, and yearly financial reports to help contribute to the business’ bottom line.
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Stay in good rapport with our teammates, while being unbiased, fair, and consistent
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Ability to write and publish an effective schedule to meet business demands.
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Conduct monthly inventory of all products.
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Ability to place and purchase orders.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
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Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in culinary management.
- ServSafe Certified
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Weekends, Evenings and Holidays
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Variable and volume-based hours which may exceed 40 hours per week based on business demands.
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Ability to follow safety protocols.
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Understanding of controlling food and labor costs
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Understanding of how to meet employees where they are while maintaining positive company culture, policies and company core purpose and core values in the workplace.
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Basic computer and keyboard skills
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Excellent people skills with the ability to interact with all levels of management, employees, other business units and businesses/non-profit organizations within the community.
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Excellent organizational skills with the ability to coordinate events for the restaurant.
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Ability to maintain confidentiality as directed.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must drive occasionally. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Thomas E. Strauss Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Note
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
Updated 03/07/2025
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