Manager Restaurant Executive Chef
NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP
Neiman Marcus Group (NMG) has been the premier destination for luxury fashion and goods, superior service, and an elevated retail experience for more than a century. Today, 9,000 associates contribute to the success of NMG’s brands: Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call, and Horchow. There are 38 full-line Neiman Marcus stores in cosmopolitan markets across the United States and a sophisticated digital platform that attracts shoppers worldwide. Bergdorf Goodman operates two stores in landmark locations on Fifth Avenue in New York City and BergdorfGoodman.com, catering to loyal luxury customers globally. NMG also owns five Last Call stores and Horchow.com, an e-commerce site that offers premium furniture and home decor.
As an organization, NMG is on a transformational journey to become the preeminent luxury customer platform. NMG continues to deliver the best integrated customer experience and has evolved the business to succeed in the ever-changing retail landscape. NMG is a relationship business. What differentiates the organization from other luxury retailers are its unique assets: a strong store footprint, the most knowledgeable associates, an engaging online experience, solid brand partnerships, innovative digital and in-store experiences, the most loyal luxury customer base, and a strong balance sheet.
Our customers will always be at the center of everything NMG does. The company continues to reinvest in new technologies that enhance the customer experience. NMG meets customers where they are. NMG’s goal is to offer customers a seamless experience across its stores, online, and remote digital selling.
NMG’s priority is to develop a highly engaged and high-performing team where everyone belongs. The business attracts and retains best-in-class talent through unique offerings provided to associates in addition to standard employer benefits. These include an innovative way of working, associate discounts on merchandise, tuition reimbursement, associate hardship fund, and paid time off to volunteer, to name a few.
As part of NMG’s Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) work, the organization is focused on driving its core value of being “All Heart.” NMG is also assessing its current environmental and social impact while developing a three-year plan to lead the luxury industry in its commitment and transparency to environmental and social sustainability. NMG strives to become an employer of choice, driven by a culture of Belonging. A dedicated team focuses on this journey, directly impacting how NMG conducts business throughout the workforce, workplace, and marketplace dimensions.
NMG has incredibly passionate and committed corporate and store associates. NMG offers associates an environment where everyone feels welcomed, nurtured, and empowered. Our associates are the heart of NMG. As an organization, NMG leads with love – love for customers, love for associates, and love for brand partners.
Summary Statement: A Restaurant Executive Chef promotes the excellence of a Neiman Marcus store by building a professional team, driving team to create top-tier food experiences, managing catering and special parties, and overseeing key Restaurant initiatives.
- Monitors and documents daily food inventories to minimize food waste, yielding resources to work towards proper food costs
- Maintains necessary skills and knowledge of all kitchen roles to fill in for positions as needed
- Maintains all Health and Sanitation standards as directed by NMG, local and federal health departments, and third-party sanitation auditors
- Checks each Cook station daily to monitor preparation readiness for service
- Oversees maintenance and cleanliness across all dining rooms and kitchens
- Oversees adherence to Health and Safety standards in work areas
- Drives restaurant to achieve and maintain a 90% score or better on seasonal shop reports and sanitation evaluations
- Upkeeps current recipe book daily detailing specials, soups, and daily menu items
- Works closely with front of house staff to execute orders and any guest requests
- Creates and executes all daily specials and soups by instructing designated kitchen stations on roles
- Monitors, organizes, and expedites all plates leaving the kitchen
- Maintains current and accurate paperwork from POS reports while monitoring restaurant success compared to the bottom line
- Manages inventory amounts, batch invoices, and month-end forecasts
- Executes food and supplies orders in accordance with Corporate Purchasing Contracts
- Monitors daily food costs to maintain planned food cost percentages
- Monitors plating to consistently deliver plates according to set specifications
- Maintains a professional, courteous kitchen environment (e.g., uniform upkeep, employee relations)
- Plans, executes, and / or supports special promotions and events for restaurant
- Maintains an active role in the front dining room procedures, responsible for creating positive work environment both inside and outside of the kitchen
- Maintains close, professional relationship with all restaurant vendors
- Keeps menus current by maintaining personal knowledge (e.g., reading cookbooks, magazines, and food journals)
- Oversees menu pricing, maintaining set percentages
- Enforces Neiman Marcus policies and procedures
- Responsible for coaching and counseling direct reports
- Oversees restaurant Associates in completing daily tasks
- Provides feedback, conflict resolution, and disciplinary action for Associates
- Partners with Human Resources on coaching and counseling of kitchen Associates
- Works with Human Resources Manager on matters relevant to Associates (e.g., training, payroll, benefits)
- Trains (or allocates training for) kitchen workers in respective areas of responsibility
- Communicates daily with restaurant management team regarding scheduling, profit and loss reports, upcoming events, and any employee-related concerns
- Communicates effectively and consistently with all culinary team members and dish crew
- Partners with Regional Director of Restaurants and General Restaurant Manager to drive smoothly-running operations
- Provides relevant updates in weekly department manager meeting
- Relays relevant news concerning the restaurant to other department managers
- Relays pertinent information and updates to restaurant staff
- 4-6 years of relevant experience
- 4-year degree preferred, culinary degree preferred
- Proven track record achieving business results
- History of leading, motivating, and coaching teams to achieve objectives
- Basic financial acumen
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to effectively and tactfully advise, counsel, coach, resolve conflict, and negotiate within all levels of an organization
- Thorough knowledge of order of service and proper placement of table settings (e.g., china, glass, flatware), food, and beverage as indicated by the kitchen ticket and the guidebook
- Exceptional customer service and problem-solving skills
- "Win together" mentality
- Basic proficiency with MS Office Product Suite, advanced proficiency preferred
- Role requires standing, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting and carrying 35 pounds
- Associates must be willing to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which will include evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Creates and maintains an environment of trust and collaboration by encouraging team members to share feedback and make recommendations for improvement
- Resolves conflicts as soon as they arise, finding common ground and settling disputes fairly and with minimal disruption
- Structures messages in a clear logical manner using the most appropriate communication medium
- Responsible for the performance and career development of direct reports
- Actively recruits and hires quality talent to add to team, planning for and creating talent bench
- Trains and develops quality talent by supporting team members in identifying career development goals and opportunities for growth and exposure
- Evaluates and calibrates performance fairly and provides feedback with consistent follow-up
- Assures that rewards are tied to objectives and requirements
- Promotes a positive environment of achievement, recognition, and celebration
- Serves as a role model by establishing and adhering to high ethical standards
- Leads team in appropriately enforcing policies and procedures, ensuring understanding from all Associates
- Speaks with truth and candor, modeling how to challenge the status quo appropriately
- Empowers and coaches team to take ownership of internal and external customer problems and resolve them quickly
- Creates a gracious and welcoming environment for internal and external customers as well as other partners
- Stays informed of business drivers, industry trends, and competitors, applying knowledge to identify and pursue new opportunities
- Establishes well-thought-out plans and manages execution of plans, anticipating and adjusting for risks and roadblocks
- Tracks progress against departmental strategies to execute properly and successfully
- Proactively shares information, best practices, and new ideas with team to improve business and performance
- Demonstrates strong decision-making skills (e.g., problem definition, data analysis, hypothesis testing, asking for input)
- Uses critical thinking skills to analyze problems and to recommend viable solutions
- Personally champions change initiatives, explaining benefits and challenges of change to team and others impacted
- Continuously builds skills and knowledge through training, coaching, and career experiences
- Demonstrates a working knowledge and appreciation of the NMG business and the fashion industry
- Conveys energy and enthusiasm for NMG and personal work
- Adapts personal approach in response to diverse situations and people
- Responds to unexpected changes in work environment with creativity and resilience
- Establishes and upholds high personal standards for individual work and environment
- Maintains a customer-centric mentality versus a solely store-centric one