Chief Steward

About the Role

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Chief Steward to manage daily kitchen utility operations and staff in Dammam, Eastern, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves overseeing dish room operations, night cleaning, back dock cleaning and maintenance, banquet plating, and food running. The Chief Steward will supervise kitchen employees not actively engaged in cooking, such as dishwashers and kitchen helpers, focusing on improving guest and employee satisfaction while adhering to the operating budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily kitchen utility operations, including dish room, night cleaning, back dock, banquet plating, and food running.
• Order and manage necessary supplies, ensuring staff have equipment, tools, and uniforms.
• Schedule events, programs, activities, and staff work.
• Monitor ordered materials and maintain current inventory.
• Conduct inventories of china, glass, and silver.
• Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, reporting shortages.
• Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure efficient service and adherence to standards.
• Investigate and follow up on employee accidents.
• Manage all equipment, china, glass, and silver, ensuring adequate clean supplies.
• Supervise adherence to loss prevention policies to prevent accidents and control costs.
• Enforce proper cleaning routines for serviceware, equipment, and floors.
• Ensure proper use and cleaning of all dish room machinery.
• Confirm all food holding and transport equipment is in working order.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, food handling, and sanitation standards.
• Communicate relevant information to executives, peers, and subordinates in a timely manner.

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead, influence, and encourage staff using interpersonal and communication skills, advocating sound financial/business decision-making.
• Supervise and manage employees, understanding their roles to perform duties in their absence.
• Provide leadership, vision, and direction to prioritize departmental goals efficiently.
• Ensure and maintain employee productivity levels.
• Serve as a role model for appropriate behaviors.
• Achieve and exceed performance, budget, and team goals.
• Recognize team members' contributions publicly.
• Foster mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Communicate performance expectations based on job descriptions.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with employees.
• Participate in managing departmental controllable expenses to meet or exceed budgeted goals.
• Strive to improve service performance and solicit employee feedback.
• Understand the impact of department operations on overall property financial goals.

Guest Service and Human Resources

• Attend meetings and communicate with executives, peers, and subordinates to enhance service quality.
• Ensure quality, standards, and customer expectations are met daily.
• Emphasize guest satisfaction in all departmental meetings and focus on continuous improvement.
• Provide guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards.
• Recruit, interview, select, hire, and promote employees.
• Train employees in safety procedures and provide feedback on service behaviors.
• Review employee satisfaction results to address concerns.
• Ensure disciplinary procedures and documentation comply with SOPs and LSOPs.
• Administer property policies fairly and consistently.
• Ensure utility staff are trained in sanitation, equipment handling, and chemical usage.
• Participate in employee progressive discipline procedures.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience is required for this role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage daily operations and supervise staff effectively.
• Strong understanding of food handling, sanitation standards, and loss prevention policies.
• Proficiency in inventory control and scheduling.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Dammam, Eastern, Saudi Arabia. The role involves working within a dynamic hotel kitchen environment, leading a team of utility staff and collaborating with various departments to ensure operational excellence and guest satisfaction. Salary information for this position is not disclosed.