Executive Chef

Recognized as one of Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler magazine, honoured with Travel + Leisure Magazine's World's Best Award for Top 10 City Hotels in Canada, and awarded Best Historic Hotel in the Americas, Fairmont Empress is located in Victoria, BC overlooking the city's sparkling Inner Harbour.
This Forbes Four-Star, 4-Diamond property offers 464 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Willow Stream Spa with signature West Coast experiences, Q at the Empress Restaurant featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine and award winning wine list, and Q Bar with its regionally focused cocktail culture was recently named to Canada's 50 Best Bars list.
World famous Tea at the Empress is a bucket list experience in the hotel's sophisticated Lobby Lounge.
Located on Vancouver Island, Canada's Castle on the Coast is the ideal starting point to explore British Columbia's stunning natural beauty.
Job DescriptionExecutive Chef Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, the Executive Chef is responsible for all Culinary and Stewarding operations, including the overall growth in all areas of guest satisfaction and colleague satisfaction.
The successful candidate will continue to improve food quality and offerings that will add to Fairmont Empress' reputation as a recognized Food and Beverage destination.
This position will require a 'hands on' approach providing coaching and guidance to all leaders and colleagues in the kitchen.
In addition, the Executive Chef will be an ambassador for Fairmont Empress and will be involved in interviews and cooking demonstrations with various clients & media outlets.
What is in it for you:Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at Accor properties worldwideExclusive Employee and Friends & Family Discounts at Fairmont EmpressExclusive access to the Pacific Northwest Food & Beverage Discount Program with 50% off at our dining destinations in Vancouver, Victoria, and WhistlerOpportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the worldComplimentary meal during your shift through our Colleague Dining ProgramComplimentary uniform launderingAccess to our comprehensive benefits and wellness programs, including extended healthcare benefits and RMT, dental, vision, and complimentary counseling, wellness sessions, financial and family planning through LifeWorksAccess to our company-matched Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP)Opportunity to develop your talent through coaching and our Leadership Mentoring ProgramsA competitive salary starting at $138,000 with annual compensation reviews based on market, performance, and capabilities.What you will be doing:Oversee the daily operations of the Kitchen, Stewarding and Cafeteria departments, including scheduling, performance management and employee training and development.Understand and execute on Accor Hotels Food & Beverage visionPromote strong commitment to Fairmont Food and Beverage StandardsDevelop and prepare menus suitable to each area of Food & Beverage, balancing creativity and guest requests while ensuring leading-edge presentation and food quality.Exhibit culinary talents by personally performing day-to-day tasks while leading the staff and managing all food related functionsEnsure and enhance quality of all ingredients, preparation, and plating of food itemsContribute to the profitability of Food & Beverage division through strategic and innovative promotional initiatives and monitoring cost of inventory, orders and suppliesDeveloping a culinary plan to ensure quality satisfaction with both long- and short-term goalsControl labor and operating expenses through effective planning, budgeting, purchasing decisions, and inventory control while focusing on creative cost control and revenue generation solutions to maximize profitCollaborate on kitchen and food and beverage capital plans in a proactive mannerBe visible in the restaurant and events in banquets providing recognition to guests, promoting positive public relations, handling special requestsOversee the operations of the Staff Cafeteria to ensure the highest quality of product and service for our internal customersActively participate in sustainability initiatives with a focus on minimizing food waste, and sourcing local productsActively participates in the hotel's Leadership & Food & Beverage Meetings, holds regular departmental communication meetings and supports participation of employees in the various hotel committees.Participate in media and community opportunities to showcase food and beverage products and promote Fairmont EmpressCoach and teach the team by working side by side with them as needed to teach different techniques, prepare new items, etc.Coordinate the selection, training, coaching, development, motivation, and evaluation of employees to ensure exceptional service for our guestsWork as an active member of the management team.
Creating professional relationships and active involvement with all hotel operations, including but not limited to; daily, and weekly management meetings, and support to all team members, including Manager on Duty Shifts.Establish and maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliersEnsure that sanitation standards as set forth by local and provincial regulations are met and in compliance as well as the cleanliness and organization of the kitchen and its equipment.Monitor and maintain the use of safe food handling procedures as well as a safe working environment by using correct food-handling skills and food safety guidelines.Ensure that all kitchen equipment is in good working order and is properly maintained.Other duties as assignedQualificationsYour experience and skills include: Minimum 8-10 years' experience in the culinary field requiredMinimum 3-5 years in an Executive Chef role with a similar hotel brand is required including experience in a large luxury banquet operationDiploma in Culinary Management (or comparable) and Red Seal Certificate requiredDemonstrated knowledge of budget planning and financial controls requiredDemonstrated financial acumen, capable of providing strong P&L financial leadership and delivering resultsPrevious experience in a well-established unionized environment an assetWell-developed capacity for strategic decision making and a track record of proven results within: guest and employee satisfaction, operational excellence and revenues and profitExcellent knowledge of food safety and hygiene standardsExcellent knowledge of food and beverage products, marketplace trends and service standards essentialStrong creative drive with specific strengths in quality production and innovative styleVisible, pro-active, personally involved in the operation with excellent organizational and problem-solving skillsResponsive, engaged and interactive with proven ability to build strong relationships and manage through influenceEnergetic, flexible and self-motivatedMust possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to speak effectively with internal and external guestsAbility to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all timesProficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, Birchstreet, etc.
and possesses the ability to create and interpret documents such as spreadsheets and accounting informationPhysical Aspects of Position (include but are not limited to):Frequent standing and walking throughout shiftFrequent lifting and carrying up to 30lbsOccasional kneeling, pushing and pullingOccasional ascending or descending ladders, stairs and rampsAdditional InformationVisa Requirements: Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
The hotel is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.
Your team and working environment: Welcome to Canada's Castle on the Coast.
The Empress Hotel sits proudly at the centre of culture and history in Victoria, British Columbia.
This is the best of all worlds - where contrast meets distinction, opulence blends harmoniously with the understated and fabled history meshes with contemporary affairs.
This award-winning Victoria hotel and National Historic Site is an alluring blend of classic and contemporary, vintage and cutting-edge: Where Modern meets Iconic.
Come join our wonderful team of hospitality experts
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