Baseball, Catering Services, Communication Skills, Cook Dishes, Cost Control, Culinary Operations, Event Management, Food Production, Food Quality, Food Safety, Food and Beverage Industry, Health Department, Health Insurance, Inventory Costs, Inventory Levels, Inventory Management, Inventory Planning, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Menu Development, Organizational Skills, Portion Control, Procedure Implementation, Property Rentals, Receiving Inspection, Refrigeration, Safety Compliance, Safety Process, Safety Standards, Safety/Work Safety, Sanitation, Team Lead/Manager, Vision Plan
Job Title: Banquet Chef
Location: Cooperstown, NY
Salary: $70,000 – $85,000 (Based on experience)
Type: Full-Time
Housing Benefit: Up to 2 months rent-free employee housing available while relocating
Overview
The Banquet Chef is responsible for overseeing all culinary operations for banquets, weddings, and planned events, serving high-volume functions throughout the year and peak summer season. This role acts as the kitchen leader in the absence of the Executive Sous Chef and plays a critical role in food quality, execution, sanitation, staffing coordination, and event readiness.
The Banquet Chef supports events ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale functions of up to 50+ catering staff, working closely with Food & Beverage leadership, the Executive Chef, and external partners including the Baseball Hall of Fame and local museums.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a chef who thrives in high-volume, high-visibility environments.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Operations & Event Execution
Lead all culinary operations for banquets, weddings, and planned events
Ensure banquet kitchens are fully prepared and service-ready for each event
Brief banquet kitchen staff daily on upcoming and current functions
Execute and oversee preparation of all hot food items while supervising garde manger and cold food production
Supervise and produce visually appealing buffet and event displays
Ensure food meets all quality, quantity, and presentation standards
Verify all food is prepared to proper specifications and timelines
Leadership & Team Management
Act as kitchen manager in the absence of the Executive Sous Chef
Build team morale through training, leadership, and positive feedback
Delegate tasks effectively and support staff during high-volume service
Control kitchen labor hours, minimize overtime, and enforce scheduled shifts
Support staffing needs during peak summer season (up to 6 days per week)
Planning, Inventory & Cost Control
Assist with monthly inventory counts
Monitor portion control, waste reduction, and food cost management
Receive, inspect, and ensure proper storage of food and supplies
Review and update recipes; develop seasonal and specialty menu items
Collaborate with the Executive Chef on banquet menu development and execution
Sanitation, Safety & Compliance
Maintain all sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas
Ensure compliance with NY Health Department codes and internal standards
Practice and enforce safe food handling, preparation, and cooking procedures
Execute end-of-day kitchen closing procedures
Ensure all banquet kitchen equipment and refrigeration is operational
Maintain personal and professional grooming and cleanliness standards
Implement and enforce workplace safety procedures
Communication & Coordination
Attend morning BEO meetings and execute event instructions accordingly
Communicate effectively with all Food & Beverage outlets
Partner with leadership to ensure smooth execution of events tied to museums, cultural institutions, and major attractions
Qualifications
Prior Banquet Chef or high-volume culinary leadership experience required
Strong culinary execution skills with a focus on consistency and presentation
Experience managing large catering teams (up to 50 staff during peak events)
Proven ability to work under pressure in fast-paced environments
Certification in sanitation and workplace safety preferred
Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays (required)
Strong planning, organization, and communication skills
Benefits & Perks
Core Benefits
Free health and vision insurance (employee)
Dental coverage
401(k)
FSA
Profit-sharing pension plan (10% of annual income, vested after 3 years)
Free term life insurance (1x annual salary)
Employee Assistance Program
Optional Teledoc coverage ($10/month – family included)
Time Off & Lifestyle
13 paid holidays (including birthday)
Vacation:
80 hours (Years 1–4)
120 hours (Years 5–9)
160 hours (Year 10+)
56 hours sick time annually
Free hot meals while working
Free gym membership
25% Retail, restaurant, spa, and golf discounts
Friends & family room discounts
Educational Support Program
After one year of full-time employment:
Student Loan Repayment
Education Sponsorship
50% reimbursement for approved industry-related education
Up to $5,000 per calendar year
One-year post-completion employment commitment required
Interested Candidates – Apply Today
Please submit:
#INDTPGSHELTON
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Top Prospect Group LLC
Top Prospect Group founders and management team offer more than 75 years of combined experience in Information Technology, Creative & Marketing, and Finance & Accounting staffing and solutions. Our fundamental goal is to build successful relationships resulting in accurate job and prospect representations. We meet with those we work with face-to-face to garner a better understanding of candidate or client requirements. By leveraging our experience and market insight, we are able to provide a more consistent recruitment process. Motivated by a partnership philosophy, our staff possesses a deep understanding of how to forge mutually beneficial long-term relationships. We believe in what we do and continuously strive for excellence.
20 to 49 employees
Staffing/Employment Agencies
http://www.topprospectgroup.com/