Desert Champions is hiring an Executive Chef for NOBU – Indian Wells. The Executive Chef upholds all Nobu service standards. The individual in this position is the leader of all culinary functions including menus, food preparation, staffing, and finance. Responsible for maintaining the highest standards of food quality, safety, and consistency, with a focus on the overall success of the restaurant. This position requires exceptional communication skills and the ability to be discerning, execute good judgement and assure high-quality food to create exceptional guest experiences.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Train, mentor and inspire the kitchen team through hands-on leadership, including sous chefs, cooks, and other culinary personnel *
- Handle staffing issues such as hiring, scheduling, attendance, and discipline *
- Conduct performance evaluations and offer appropriate coaching and guidance *
- Oversee all aspects of food preparation and execution, ensuring quality, consistency, and efficiency *
- Oversee prep work, cooking, and plating to ensure efficiency and quality *
- Ensure staff compliance with all health, safety, and sanitation standards including surfaces, utensils, food prep and storage *
- Maintain all required checklists, reports, and other documentation *
- Collaborate with management team to develop menus, considering seasonal ingredients, customer preferences, and restaurant concepts
- Develop specials and function menus, ensuring they align with Nobu’s standards and guest preferences
- Consistently ensure a strong focus on Nobu’s specific culinary standards and techniques, for all food preparation, presentation, and taste across all dishes
- Oversee kitchen operations, including inventory, ordering and food and labor costs to meet financial targets ensuring profitability while maintaining quality
- Foster a positive, respectful, and professional culture with all employees, customers, and suppliers through effective and professional communication
- Track and prepare guest order tickets while adhering to established ticket time production standards*
- Attend all mandatory meetings and trainings; maintain certifications, be aware of scheduled, special events *
- Provide relief as needed to adhere to meal and rest breaks in accordance with state laws *
- Follow all company and state harassment and workplace violence prevention and policies *
- Adhere and administer appropriate responses to emergencies for fire and life safety *
- Handle time and Payroll approvals and other managerial functions as needed *
The job duties and responsibilities listed above are a general outline of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible tasks and duties as assigned by management
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- At least 5+ years executive chef experience in a fine dining, high volume environment
- At least 3+ years in a management position
- A culinary arts degree preferred
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and OTHER ABILITIES
- Ability to work in high-pressure environments
- Strong knowledge of Japanese/Peruvian cuisine including sushi, and sashimi
- Knowledge of weights, measures, and recipe yields
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of food preparation, cooking techniques, and equipment
- Knowledge of general sanitary and safety practices
- Proven ability to lead and manage a large kitchen team effectively
- High attention to detail in terms of food quality, presentation, and consistency
- Proficient knowledge of food/plate costs
REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
- California Workplace Harassment certification
- Riverside County Handlers certification
- California Workplace Violence Prevention training
LANGUAGE ABILITY
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as manuals, instruction brochures, and email correspondence
- Ability to speak effectively with guests, customers, vendors, VIPs, and employees of the organization
MATH ABILITY
- Advanced math ability, Strong abilities of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Calculation of amounts, sizes, or other measurements
- General understanding of accounting formulas
- Ability to organize numerical data and maintain attention to detail
REASONING ABILITY
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
- Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations
COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE
- Intermediate level of proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, and Excel
- Experience working with Micros Symphony and Open Table a plus
- Intermediate computer literacy, including laptop, iPad, time clock, etc.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to walk long distances and stand during entire shift
- Regularly required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk and hear
- Frequently required to use reach with hands and arms
- Ability to work in confined space
- Must have exceptional vision with or without corrective lenses
- May occasionally lift up to 80 pounds
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This position requires flexible working hours, and will include nights, weekends, and major holidays, as required. May be required to work extended work hours during events or special projects
- Employee is regularly exposed to indoor and outdoor weather conditions
- Frequently exposed to cold, hot, wet, or humid conditions
- Noise level in the work environment is usually loud
EOE
