Restaurant Chef- Nm Cafe, Ft. Worth

Summary Statement: A Restaurant Manager / Chef promotes the excellence of a Neiman Marcus store by building a professional team, driving top-tier guest experiences through quality food and outstanding customer service, managing catering and special events, and overseeing key Restaurant initiatives.

• Creates and executes all daily specials and soups by teaching each designated kitchen station roles
• Monitors daily food costs to maintain planned food cost percentages
• Monitors plating to consistently deliver plates according to set specifications
• Partners with Human Resources on coaching and counseling of kitchen Associates
• Monitors, organizes, and expedites all plates leaving the kitchen
• Checks each Cook’s station daily to monitor preparation readiness for service
• Maintains all Health and Sanitation standards as directed by NMG, local and federal health departments, and third-party sanitation auditors
• Manages inventory amounts, batch invoices, and month-end forecasts
• Maintains an active role in the front dining room procedures, driving team to maintain an efficient work environment both inside and outside of the kitchen
• Maintains current and accurate paperwork from POS reports while monitoring restaurant success compared to the bottom line
• Maintains sufficient skills and knowledge for all kitchen roles to fill in for positions as needed
• Oversees menu pricing, maintaining set percentages
• Oversees adherence to Health and Safety standards in work areas
• Monitors and documents daily food inventories to minimize food waste, yielding resources to work towards proper food costs
• Works closely with front waitstaff to support smoothly-running kitchen operations
• Drives a professional and courteous environment in all dining rooms
• Works closely with supervisor on catering needs of special events
• Trains (or allocates training for) kitchen workers in respective areas of responsibility
• Drives restaurant to achieve and maintain a 90% score or better on seasonal shop reports and sanitation evaluations
• Plans, executes, and / or supports special promotions and events for restaurant
• Works with supervisor to order food and supplies in accordance with Corporate Purchasing Contracts
• Executes food and supplies orders in accordance with Corporate Purchasing Contracts
• Maintains a professional, courteous kitchen environment (e.g., uniform upkeep, employee relations)
• Upkeeps current recipe book daily detailing specials, soups, and daily menu items
• Oversees maintenance of excellent quality and cleanliness across all dining rooms and kitchens
• Maintains close, professional relationship with all restaurant vendors
• Keeps menus current by maintaining personal knowledge (e.g., reading cookbooks, magazines, and food journals)

• Provides feedback, conflict resolution, and disciplinary action for Associates
• Provides feedback, conflict resolution, and disciplinary action for Associates
• Enforces Neiman Marcus policies and procedures
• Responsible for coaching and counseling direct reports
• Works with Human Resources Manager on matters relevant to Associates (e.g., training, payroll, benefits)
• Oversees restaurant Associates in completing daily tasks

• Communicates daily with restaurant management team regarding scheduling, profit and loss reports, upcoming events, and any employee-related concerns
• Relays pertinent information and updates to restaurant staff
• Relays relevant news concerning the restaurant to other department managers
• Communicates effectively and daily with all culinary team members and dish crew
• Provides relevant updates in weekly department manager meeting
• Partners with Regional Director of Restaurants to ensure store is running smoothly

• 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
• Basic financial acumen
• "Win together" mentality
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional customer service and problem-solving skills
• History of leading, motivating, and coaching teams to achieve objectives
• Basic proficiency with MS Office Product Suite, advanced proficiency preferred
• Proven track record achieving business results
• Associates must be willing to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which will include evenings, weekends, and holidays
• 4-year degree preferred
• 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
• Role requires standing, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting and carrying 35 pounds
• 4-6 years of relevant experience

• 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
• Responsible for the performance and career development of direct reports
• 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
• Actively recruits and hires quality talent to add to team, planning for and creating talent bench
• Empowers and coaches team to take ownership of internal and external customer problems and resolve them quickly
• Serves as a role model by establishing and adhering to high ethical standards
• Trains and develops quality talent by supporting team members in identifying career development goals and opportunities for growth and exposure
• Assures that rewards are tied to objectives and requirements
• Evaluates and calibrates performance fairly and provides feedback with consistent follow-up
• Promotes a positive environment of achievement, recognition, and celebration
• Creates and maintains an environment of trust and collaboration by encouraging team members to share feedback and make recommendations for improvement
• 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
• Tracks progress against departmental strategies to execute properly and successfully
• Establishes well-thought-out plans and manages execution of plans, anticipating and adjusting for risks and roadblocks
• Personally champions change initiatives, explaining benefits and challenges of change to team and others impacted
• 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

• Conveys energy and enthusiasm for NMG and personal work
• Adapts personal approach in response to diverse situations and people
• Demonstrates a working knowledge and appreciation of the NMG business and the fashion industry
• Continuously builds skills and knowledge through training, coaching, and career experiences
• Establishes and upholds high personal standards for individual work and environment
• Maintains a customer-centric mentality versus a solely store-centric one
• Responds to unexpected changes in work environment with creativity and resilience