Company Description

The beautiful lakefront Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa offers you the perfect opportunity to meet and share stories with guests who arrive from around the world to experience Central Florida’s world-famous theme parks and attractions. Enjoy the surroundings and excitement that our world-class resort offers when you join the Westgate Lakes team. As part of Westgate Resorts, recognized by U.S. News as one of the Best Companies to Work For, you’ll be joining a team committed to excellence and creating unforgettable vacation experiences and supporting your career growth where you are or at 60+ resorts across the company.

Job Description

Join a premier hospitality destination as a Banquet Chef, leading culinary operations for large-scale banquets, special events, weddings, conferences, receptions, and resort functions. The Banquet Chef is responsible for overseeing all banquet food production, ensuring exceptional food quality, flawless presentation, operational efficiency, and outstanding guest satisfaction across multiple event formats.

What You'll Do as a Banquet Chef:

• Plan, prepare, and execute banquet menus for weddings, conferences, corporate events, galas, receptions, and specialty functions according to established quality standards.

• Oversee high-volume food production, large-batch cooking, buffet preparation, banquet plating, and event execution.

• Cook or directly supervise the preparation of menu items requiring advanced culinary techniques and professional presentation standards.

• Develop recipes, preparation methods, and presentation techniques that support menu consistency, guest satisfaction, and cost control.

• Monitor food quality, portion control, taste, freshness, temperature, and presentation standards throughout all banquet operations.

• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop banquet cooks, prep cooks, and culinary support team members.

• Assign daily responsibilities, conduct training, and evaluate team performance to ensure operational excellence.

• Coordinate banquet service timing and execution with Banquet Captains, Catering Managers, and Food & Beverage leadership.

• Create and manage production schedules to support multiple simultaneous events and functions.

• Monitor inventory levels and maintain adequate banquet food, beverage, and supply inventories.

• Assist with purchasing forecasts, budgeting initiatives, food cost management, and labor optimization efforts.

• Minimize food waste through proper storage, inventory rotation, menu planning, and production management.

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, OSHA, and health department regulations.

• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness of banquet kitchen facilities and equipment.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives designed to enhance culinary quality, productivity, and guest experiences.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

This role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service during evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak event periods.

What You Will Bring as a Banquet Chef:

• Minimum 5 years of progressive culinary leadership experience within hotels, resorts, convention centers, catering operations, or hospitality venues.

• Proven experience managing high-volume banquet production, large-scale events, weddings, conferences, and catered functions.

• Previous experience supervising and developing culinary teams in fast-paced food service environments.

• Strong background in food production planning, banquet execution, and operational leadership.

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or a related field preferred.

• Food Safety Manager Certification required or ability to obtain upon hire.

• Additional culinary certifications preferred.

Additional Information

Why Westgate?

• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

• Paid Time Off – Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time to Recharge

• Paid Holidays

• 401(k) with Generous Company Match to Support Your Future

• Daily Pay – Access Your Earnings When You Need Them

• Family-Focused Benefits – Pregnancy, Parental Leave, and Adoption Assistance

• Wellness Programs to Support Your Well-Being

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Tuition Assistance to Help You Grow Your Career

• Military Leave

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Support When You Need It Most

• Life, Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Insurance

• Pet Insurance for Your Furry Family Members

• Loyalty Program – Exclusive Discounts on Hotels, Cruises, Resorts, Restaurants, Entertainment, and More

• Low-Cost Gym Membership

• NEW! David A. Siegel Legacy Scholarship – Up to $40,000 for Team Members’ Dependents After 1 Year of Service

• Career Growth and Advancement Opportunities

• Community Involvement – Give Back and Make an Impact

Westgate Resorts is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other protected status under federal, state or local law. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email [email protected] with the job title and the location of the position for which you are applying. This job posting is intended to provide a general overview of the position and may not include every responsibility, duty, or qualification required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.