INDIAN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB, MISSION HILLS, KANSAS
EXECUTIVE CHEF
History of the Club: In 1919, founding fathers brought forth a club they called the Country Club District Community Golf Association. These 50 like-minded golf enthusiasts initially began playing nine holes on land rented to them from the J.C. Nichols Company; however, these visionaries dreamed of owning their own golf course and so they began setting aside an annual real estate fund to turn their dream into reality. In 1922, the Club temporarily moved to what is now home of The Kansas City Country Club, where members continued golfing on this rented property. In 1926, the Club founders' dream was realized and enough money was accumulated, without assessing the membership, to finance a new golf course on the 130 acres of picturesque ground we still enjoy today.
Legendary golf course designer, A.W. Tillinghast of New York City, was retained to design the new course. As one of the leading golf architects in the United States, Tillinghast had to his credit the design of some of the country's finest golf courses, including Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, and Baltusrol in Springfield, New Jersey. After spending ten days on the grounds developing detailed plans for the course, Tillinghast enthusiastically pronounced it, "One of the greatest opportunities I have ever had for creating a notable golf course. Natural beauties abound, a stream, hills, valleys and wooded sections, that provide a most unusual design opportunity."
Position Specific: Indian Hills CC is looking for a high-quality leader who can hold staff accountable and also develop his/her team to a higher level of performance through mentorship. This individual must be highly trustworthy, have humility and be easy to work with across all departments. A business acumen with great creativity and vision is also desirable. Must be highly organized and always planning ahead for service while still being able to deliver in the moment. He/she is a great communicator and maintains the, "We are only as good as our last service mentality."
There are no major issues at IHCC. The retiring Chef is well-liked, and member food & beverage satisfaction is high. The new Executive Chef should fit- in, observe and become a part of the team before making any substantive changes. The departing Chef was employed by the Club for 19 years.
Candidate Qualifications:
- The position requires an engaged leader with a strong culinary vision who will drive dining offerings and ensure quality control and consistency of menu items.
- The Executive Chef should have management and administrative skills with the ability to communicate with staff and Department Heads.
- The Executive Chef is expected to produce budget assumptions each year for revenues and expenses and a zero-based payroll budget.
- The new Executive Chef is passionate about all things culinary, and keeps current with the latest trends and equipment, and is able to produce new house-made items, creative buffet presentations and evolving menus.
- The Executive Chef is expected to maintain visibility by walking around the dining rooms and the clubhouse interacting with the members. The Chef authors a newsletter article and during Club Social functions, the Chef is in front of the membership or working at a table/carving station, etc.
- Prior experience working in private, member-owned clubs, or a very high-end luxury resort/hotel brand (EX: Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons)
- Prior long-tenure of work time in all past positions