Job Information
TravelCenters of America Corporate Executive Chef in Westlake, Ohio
There’s never been a better time to join TravelCenters of America! For more than 50 years, millions of professional truck drivers and motorists have called our travel centers home, depending on us daily for fuel, food, truck maintenance and essential services.
Now a part of the bp family, TA is focused on growing its network of travel centers, implementing cutting edge technology and embarking on innovative alternative energy and sustainability initiatives.
From our locations across the country, to our corporate headquarters in Westlake, Ohio, every team member is a stakeholder in TA’s success. This environment offers endless career opportunities for individuals interested in sharing their ideas, growing with the company and shaping TA’s future.
Summary
The Corporate Chef is responsible for creating and maintaining a library of recipes and menus for Proprietary FSR brands and delis to help promote brand recognition, sales and profits for all TA owned brands. Accountabilities include generating plate presentations, implementation of programs, oversight of standard operating procedures, and ensuring culinary excellence while maintaining proper labor and margin budgets. Defines specifications for and approval of menu related activity including but not limited to food specials, limited time offers, prepared foods to go, scoop & serve and other proprietary programs. Possess an optimistic attitude that inspires other team members and communication skills that promote mutual trust and respect. Proven business acumen with an active understanding of budgets, operating costs, and the ability to work with field operations and various departments to accomplish implementation of menu items, standard operating procedures and programs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Updates current, and creates new, menu items which includes but not limited to:
Creating and updating menu items at least 2 times a year
Creating limited time offers as deemed necessary by Director
Creating and costing of recipes with yields
Testing new recipes
Entering menu items into POS system
Writing plating instructions and Item descriptions
Delivering on deadlines for LTO’s, Menus and SOPs
Supports the Marketing department during photo shoots for menus, LTOs and seasonal specials
Responsible for monthly monitoring of all commodity and food ingredient costs affecting margins to recommend appropriate recipe changes and/or menu prices adjustments.
Responsible for set up and implementation of food tastings for senior management on all potential new menu items.
Researches and generates specification of food products, plate ware and table service. This includes:
Working with procurement to secure alternative items when availability issues arise
Teaming with Procurement to source plate ware test new items
Approving items
Updating the field on produce buys
Menu items, including limited time offers, buffet recipes and salad bar items.
Travel to locations to work with employees, managers, District Managers and RVPs to review the effectiveness of production guidelines and food specifications, while upholding food safety and cleanliness standards
Work with Procurement RPF processes when necessary for national contracted products and equipment needs
Responsible for creating and updating production forms such prep sheets, pull sheets for the field.
Participate in making of training videos for each new procedure and menu items.
Travel to sites to troubleshoot food cost problems.
Work with senior management to approve spec equipment.
Qualifications
8-10 years culinary and restaurant management experience.
Ability to create or improve upon systems to optimize daily production and profitability
Experience in creative recipe conception.
Experienced in Excel, Word, Other
Ability to collaborate with others and process feedback to improve outcomes and results.
Professional Certification not required but a plus.
Occasional overnight travel required.
With us, you’ll enjoy:
*Competitive wages and annual bonus opportunity
*Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
*401(k) with a company match
*Paid vacation and holidays
*Tuition reimbursement
*A wide variety of discounts on technology, travel, food and fuel
*Opportunity for growth and advancement with company paid training
Not all benefit plans are available to all team members. For a more comprehensive list of benefits, please visit https://www.ta-petro.com/careers/working-in-our-corporate-office
Pay Range
$0.00 - 0.00 annually - A pay range listed reflects the potential pay for this role. The pay will depend on various factors, such as responsibilities of the position, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Not all positions posted will have a pay range listed.
Our travel centers serve thousands every day; not one traveler is the same and our team must reflect that. We can "return every traveler to the road better than they came" only by understanding and celebrating individualism. TravelCenters of America is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, familial status, ancestry, sex, gender, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, handicap, military service or Veteran status, genetic information or membership in any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law. At TravelCenters of America, we invite everyone to make themselves at home.
Individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation related to our recruiting process. If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please email us at appada@ta-petro.com. In your email, please include your first and last name, phone number, the position and location for which you are applying, and details pertaining to the accommodation request.
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements
In this role, the employee is continuously sitting and typing, frequently talking and using eye and hand coordination and may also be required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move objects. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Standing, walking, bending over, and repetitive use of legs are done occasionally. All performed with or without a reasonable accommodation. Must be able
to stand for long periods. Occasional overnight travel required.
Disclaimer
This job description may not list all duties for this position. The incumbent in the position may be asked to perform other duties. TA Operating LLC reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment, and either the incumbent or TA Operating LLC may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.