Prep Manager

Grand Rapids Magazine has named Mertens Prime to its Top 10 Restaurant List in 2020 and again in 2021. Take the next step in your career and progress to one of the elite restaurants in Grand Rapids at Mertens.

We are hiring our Prep Manager. This is full time, salaried position.

Successful applicants will have:

-Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office.

-The ability to build out upon an existing system of ordering and prep to the most exacting detail.

-A demonstrated passion for organization, with a similar passion for precision and love of the detail in the intricate chain of events required to bring incredible dishes to the table. These roles require skilled technicians that are task-masters, enjoy checklists, computerized monitoring of all processes and recipes, and are firm believers that an investment in organization & detailed continuous process improvement pays off in the long-term for the guest, the restaurant and in their own work/life balance.

-A strong interest in the latest commercial-kitchen technology and a fervent curiosity about how food and the science behind the production of food. Mertens has invested in our future by completely re-inventing our kitchens from the ground-up.

-The right candidate will loathe daily prep-lists written out on a spare piece of paper and will be highly motivated to work to eliminate any such signs of disorganization from their kitchen environment.

-A passion for classic French cuisine and technique

-Excitement about executing an existing menu and well-organized BOH system and enjoys taking care and working with incredible ingredients from the best providers.

-Motivation about taking leadership of a highly-visible restaurant that has been named a Top 10 Grand Rapids Restaurant in 2020 and also in 2021 by Grand Rapids Magazine.

-This is primarily a day-time position, but the Prep Manager will also work the line from time-to-time; especially in low-season.

-At least 2 years of experience in a professional kitchen. Large company/corporate experience in management roles is a plus.

Compensation:

Mertens is looking for serious, long-term candidates. Our compensation targets will always include a combination of a sizeable base salary, sign-on bonus, performance bonuses, and also a significant bonus for simply accruing tenure in the role. Those that are seeking a long-term role are handsomely rewarded financially for simply accruing tenure with us.

Why Mertens?

1. A 5-day schedule with two days off in a row every week is standard with this role.

1. Be a part of something bigger and something with enduring ties to our city: Mertens honors and celebrates the historical nature of the beautiful building we have been entrusted with. We seek to restore the mystique of New Hotel Mertens by connecting guests to our distinctive place in Grand Rapids history. And we do this by excelling in the use of our distinctive, historical venue to provide a consistent luxurious restaurant experience to our guests using authentic touch-points between history and hospitality such as our original circa-1939 New Hotel Mertens cocktail menu.

2. We lead with love. And our team motto "75 Steps" is a reference to the 1930's motto of New Hotel Mertens which was just 75-steps from Grand Rapids Union Station. Our 75-Steps Committee brings in teammates from all levels to foster company-wide communication and cooperation on how we can better enliven our values of Trust, Authenticity, Caring, Transparency, Integrity, Learning and Engagement.

3. You will not be alone. You will work alongside a strong kitchen team and highly regimented kitchen system. You will *not* be walking into a mess of any kind! Instead these roles can step right in and focus on learning/teaching and executing with a strong BOH team that is already in place.

TO APPLY: include a brief sentence or two explaining (1) why you wish to work for Mertens, and (2) your work history of where you have worked and when or a resume along with references.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Weekend availability

Supplemental Pay:

• Bonus pay
• Signing bonus

Application Question(s):

• Describe your skills and experience with Microsoft Excel:

Experience:

• Culinary Experience: 3 years (Preferred)
• Fine Dining: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: One location