Job description

Overview of ROC-Michigan:
The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-Michigan) is a non-profit, membership-based organization of restaurant workers in Detroit, MI.  We are an affiliate of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United), a national restaurant workers’ organization founded in New York City by restaurant workers displaced by the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy.  We are dedicated to improving working conditions and increasing opportunities for advancement in restaurants nationwide for the collective benefit of workers, employers, and consumers.  We take a three-pronged approach to achieving change in the restaurant industry:  campaigning for workplace justice; promoting the ‘high-road’ to profitability, and conducting research and policy work.  In ten years,  ROC has become the nation’s leading restaurant worker organization.  More information can be found at:  www.rocunited.org  

Overview of COLORS of Detroit:
One of the ways that ROC promotes opportunities for advancement for low-wage restaurant workers is through job training and placement in food service.  Our COLORS Hospitality Opportunities for Workers Institute is a unique professional training program in culinary and front-of-the-house skills that assists low-income trainees with placement into living wage jobs.  The Institute is housed at our full-service COLORS restaurants.   COLORS of Detroit will open in the city’s downtown business district.  Serving farm to table cuisine in a sophisticated, contemporary setting, COLORS of Detroit will provide fresh and affordable locally sourced food to Detroit residents while operating a non-profit training center that will teach food service and hospitality skills to low-income job seekers.  We offer a dynamic and respectful workplace, where you will have a direct impact on the success of our mission and our students.  Strong leadership skills and an interest in training and developing future culinary professionals from a variety of walks of life are critical.  

Responsibilities Include:
The Executive Chef leads the provision of quality meals to the public while balancing the needs of metoring low-income job seekers who will be serving as culinary apprentices in the COLORS kitchen as part of its non-profit training and placement programs. 

The Executive Chef is responsible for:

• providing services in an atmosphere of dignity and respect in accordance with COLORS’ mission;
• working with other instructors and staff to continually improve the COLORS curriculum;
• communicating with the Training Coordinator to assist COLORS students and graduates;
• overseeing restaurant inventory and ordering;
• developing the menu, food and beverage budget; overseeing maintenance of facilities in coordination with operations;
• setting policies and procedures for the kitchen; and 
• supervising, training and coaching employees and apprentice trainees. 

The Executive Chef will join a dedicated team of non-profit and hospitality professionals dedicated to improving working conditions and advancing opportunity in the restaurant industry.  This team will include: a COLORS General Manager, a COLORS Master Chef Instructor (responsible for the classroom training of students); a production cook; as well as non-profit staff who will be responsible for outreach, program administration, job placement services, and fundraising.   The vision is for COLORS of Detroit as a non-profit restaurant and training center to spin-off a cooperative, worker-owned restaurant.  

Skills and Qualifications:
· Associates degree or higher from an accredited cooking school
· Food Sanitation License
· Computer skills
· At least three additional years of related experience and training, including experience in high volume establishments (preferred)
·  Demonstrated ability to maintain food cost at below budget, manage meal service set-up, break down, and menu development
· Dedication to ‘high-road,’ sustainable business practices with farm to table, American bistro menu development skills 
· Organized and detail-oriented
· Demonstrated leadership and coaching style  
· Strong interest in and commitment to social, economic and racial justice
People of color and women are encouraged to apply.  

Reports to:
ROC-Michigan Coordinator  

Salary:
Commensurate with education & experience. 

Benefits:
Featured benefits include generous paid time off as well as health insurance.  

Start Date: 
July 15, 2011

Compensation

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