While you just may know that Brookfield Zoo is a major player in the global effort to preserve and support our animal kingdom, you may not know that we provide world-class culinary delights, impeccable presentation, and amazing surroundings for various events from weddings, birthday parties, business meetings, black-tie events, fundraisers, ceremonies, picnics and countless others. It truly is an exotic venue and no place can compare to Brookfield Zoo!

The Culinary Supervisor contributes to creating these memorable events by managing, coordinating, supervising, and overseeing food preparation and production areas to maintain proper levels of guest satisfaction through training, sanitation, safety, and quality, as well as compliance with Society standards, policies and procedures. Your customer service focus will be utilized as you will be responsible for most food production and the speed of food delivery with overall quality in mind creating that extraordinary guest experience. Utilizing your prior food service experience, you will coach and train staff for growth and expansion in their areas of expertise, streamline productions, and cross-train staff for future growth. You will make use of your drive for results by maintaining desired service and financial results, balanced with safety and sanitation policies. You will also oversee and participate in monthly inventory process, accurately receive and store all deliveries from warehouse and vendors, and maintain the security of all Society equipment, supplies and product. As a role model, you will maintain effective communications among various managers and staff to ensure timely delivery and superior quality of products and services.

Position Requirements and Specifications
This seasonal position requires flexibility to work weekends, evenings and holidays as required. Catered Events employees may be scheduled to work a morning, afternoon or evening function. Employees are scheduled to start as early as 6:30 a.m. and work as late as 2:00 a.m. Catered Events employees may be required to work a 10-hour day or longer. Work schedules are based on the needs of the operation. This is a temporary (seasonal) position. The minimum starting wage is $10.25 per hour.

The requirements for this position include:

• High school diploma or equivalent training or experience preferred.
  
• Must hold or obtain a Food Service Sanitation certificate as required by the city, county, and state within one year of hire.
  
• Cooking school certificate preferred, preferably with food management courses included in the curriculum.
  
• One year relevant experience in a food service environment is required.
  
• Must be detail oriented, organized and able to maintain a high level of accuracy.
  
• Outstanding customer service orientation required.
  
• Must be flexible and able to handle multiple tasks.
  
• Valid driver's license required. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois license within 90 days of hire. Valid out-of-state license required for out-of-state residents.
  
• Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience. Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information
This requisition is to actively recruit for positions that are anticipated to have start dates during the month of September 2014.

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities / Women / Veterans / Disabled.