Executive Chef - Nexus in Middlesex County (NJ)

EXECUTIVE CHEF - Nexus in Middlesex County (NJ)

MCP SFM, LLC

LOCATION: Edison, NJ

DEPARTMENT: FOOD & BEVERAGE

REPORTS TO: FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR

STATUS: FULL-TIME (EXEMPT)

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Nexus in Middlesex County (NJ) is a premier sport, recreation and entertainment destination focused on improving the health and economic vitality of Edison, NJ. You will be joining a championship level team focused on fun, fulfillment and service built to enrich the community as well as your career and personal growth.

Nexus in Middlesex County (NJ) is a managed facility by Sports Facilities Management, LLC, a Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) company. SFC is the nation's leading resource for managing and developing sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. We provide a highly collaborative and supportive culture that raises our team members to new levels of career growth. Together, we will carve a path in a hyper-growing industry where you will enjoy the journey and learn from the industry's best while having some fun.

SFC has been awarded national recognition as a Top Workplace and is considered a workplace of choice. Our mission-focused company is highly entrepreneurial, team-oriented with a culture centered on collaboration, accountability, excellence, and service. We are growing rapidly and looking for high performers at every level to grow with us.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Executive Chef is the senior culinary leader responsible for all back-of-house food operations across the recreation center's multi-outlet footprint-anchored by a full-service restaurant-along with quick-service/concessions, grab-and-go, café, catering, and special events. This role sets the culinary vision, builds and develops a high-performance kitchen team, ensures consistently exceptional guest experience, and delivers business results through menu engineering, cost controls, food safety, and cross-functional partnership with Front-of-House, Events, and Venue Operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Lead menu development, tasting and iteration cycles, and seasonal rotations; ensure dishes are costed, scalable, and aligned with guest insights and profitability goals

- Uphold best-in-market quality for flavor, presentation, and consistency across all outlets (restaurant, concessions/QSR, café, catering, special events)

- Establish and enforce recipe standards, portioning guides, prep lists, and expo protocols; ensure accurate recipe documentation and training compliance

- Recruit, train, and mentor Sous Chefs, BOH Supervisors, Cooks, Prep, Pastry (if applicable), and Utility/Dish teams

- Own culinary P&L levers: food cost, labor cost, waste, and controllables; meet or exceed targets through disciplined inventory, purchasing, and production planning

- Maintain procurement standards: negotiate with purveyors, source high-quality local/seasonal products, and ensure on-time, in-spec deliveries

- Oversee inventory controls (par levels, cycle counts), invoice accuracy, transfers, and waste tracking; drive accurate weekly/monthly closes with Finance

- Ensure kitchen equipment is maintained, calibrated, and safe; coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs

- Ensure compliance with Health Code and state requirements; uphold policies to achieve and maintain an "A" grade

- Implement and audit HACCP-based procedures, allergen management, labeling, cooling logs, and sanitation checklists; conduct mock inspections and corrective actions

- Enforce OSHA-compliant practices, knife/hood/grease management, and safe chemical handling

- Provide clear shift briefings, prep priorities, and expo leadership; communicate proactively across departments to ensure a seamless guest experience.

- Report weekly on KPIs, wins, risks, and action plans; contribute to annual planning and budgeting

- Performs other related duties as assigned by management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

- 7+ years progressive BOH leadership with 3+ years as Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine in an elevated, chef-driven, scratch kitchen preferred

- Demonstrated success overseeing multi-outlet or high-volume operations (restaurant + catering/events; QSR/concessions a plus)

- Expert-level culinary fundamentals, menu development, and plating standards for elevated dining; strong knowledge of regional/seasonal sourcing

- Proven financial acumen: food/labor cost control, menu engineering, inventory systems, and vendor negotiations

- Must be available on weekends, holidays, nights, and days

- Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision

- Effective time management skills

- Prior experience/education in food industry, scratch kitchens (pizza, deli, food hall)

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT:

- Working environment is fast paced

- Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds infrequently

- Limited exposure to physical risk

- Limited physical effort required