Overview of Kitchen Manager
Purdue University Northwest, Hammond Campus Food and Beverage Services is seeking an Executive Sous Chef/Kitchen Manager to work closely with our Main Cafe and Alumni Hall Banquet team on our beautiful Hammond, IN campus. Responsible for providing supportive leadership to kitchen staff throughout food service operations. Duties include assisting the Kitchen Supervisor in overseeing daily kitchen activities, ensuring the quality, taste, and presentation of all food items, and taking on additional responsibilities as needed. This role plays a key part in delivering excellent guest experience while maintaining high service and operational standards throughout the kitchen. This position will report directly to the Director of food and beverage/Executive Chef ensuring that all food operations are operating efficiently weekly.
Duties and Responsibilities of Kitchen Manager
- Manage the Daily Operations of The Pride Cafe
- Oversee the day-to-day activities of The Pride Café food service, which include event preparation, meticulous cleaning, and coordination with staff.
- Flexibility in the work schedule based on the demands and fluctuations of the banquet operations, encompassing the ability to modify work hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as necessitated by business requirements.
- Lead Café Kitchen and Catering Production
- Assist with the day-to-day activities of The Café food service.
- Support of on-site food service operations
- Provide support to On Campus Events and Alumni hall during low seasonality and/or in absence of the Executive Chef.
- Support banquets in procurement planning and ordering.
- May be required to assist Westville Campus upon request.
- Maintain a vigilant commitment to food safety by guaranteeing the correct temperatures during food preparation and proper storage afterward, preventing foodborne issues and ensuring the highest quality in every dish
- Demonstrate flexibility and initiative by readily taking on additional responsibilities and tasks as assigned, supporting the overall success of our culinary team and ensuring a seamless dining experience for our guests.
- Participate in kitchen and front-of-house communication, ensuring smooth service during peak times.
- Demonstrate expertise in handling kitchen tools and equipment, including adept usage of kitchen knives and proficiency with a range of cooking equipment such as grills, ovens, steamers, and warmers for the purpose of food preparation, ensuring the highest quality in every dish.
Benefits of of Kitchen Manager
- Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
- Accrue 15 days’ vacation your first year, then 22 days’ vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
- University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
- University contributions to Health Savings Account –
- Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
- 10 paid holidays
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
- Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus
For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Education of Kitchen Manager
- HS Diploma/GED
- Culinary school preferred
Experience of Kitchen Manager
- 5+ years of experience working in a professional kitchen
- Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or food service environment may also be considerred
- Experience with PNW Dining Services is preferred.
- Experience menu management systems preferred
Core Competencies of Kitchen Manager
- Food preparation and cooking techniques
- Recipe execution and consistency
- Menu production and plating standards
- Knowledge of food safety and sanitation (ServSafe or equivalent)
- Team supervision and shift leadership
- Ability to delegate tasks and manage workflow
- Time management and multitasking
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Inventory tracking and ordering systems
- Basic computer skills (email, spreadsheets, POS systems)
- Catering setup and execution
- Ordering and vendor coordination
- Waste reduction and cost awareness
- Reliability and accountability
- Ability to work all Banquet Positions and coordinate events
- Flexibility and adaptability May also need to travel to our Westville, IN Campus or Gabis Arboretum in Valparaiso, IN for events as needed
- Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
- Food Safety certificate and Alcohol Certificate
- Valid Driver’s License for use of Campus Catering Vehicle
- Must meet the Minimum Driver Qualifications as defined by the Use of Vehicles for University Business Policy
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift and carry 25 to 50 lbs. frequently, and up to 60 lbs. occasionally
- Flexible scheduling, such as nights weekends and holidays as needed
Additional Information
Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.
Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.
Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.
PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.