About The Club: Willow Oaks Country Club opened its doors in 1957, with the golf course formally opening in June of 1959. Handsome refurbishments completed in the early 2000s took their inspiration from the “Old House,” the heart of it all. Renovations included a new pool and bathhouse surrounded by fine ironwork and masonry, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a return to classic décor in the Clubhouse, Dining and Lounge areas. During the 2008 renovation of the par-72 golf course along the James River, the Club unearthed storage piles of stones from its mining days. In homage to history, these stones were incorporated into the architecture of the course, including the large stone wall at the first and eighth tees and the base of 17th green. Today, two mounds just in front of the 12th tee are all that remain of those old stone piles.
Despite the growth of neighborhoods and highways nearby, Willow Oaks has retained its idyllic setting and country feel. With its river vistas, rolling hills, serene environs and old world charm, Willow Oaks still feels like that home in the country it was so long ago. Willow Oaks celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, and remains unyielding with nearly 1000 families comprising the active membership. The Club’s continued growth is due to the Board’s commitment to excellence in providing top notch facilities and service. The Willow Oaks mission to “provide an exceptional country club experience for our families and guests” will continue to shape the Club’s future.
Dining Facilities:
Oak Grille/Lounge – Featuring current club fare & Southern foods.
Men’s Grill/Lounge – Casual, seats up to 90.
Wave Café – Seasonal Poolside Restaurant
Private Events – Willow Oaks Country Club takes special pride in creating celebrations that become memories. The stunning layout of the Clubhouse and expansive brick patio with panoramic views of the golf course and historic James River make Willow Oaks the perfect setting for celebrating your special day. The beautifully appointed rooms can accommodate up to 350 guests for a standing reception or 250 for seated dining. Business is steady throughout the year with peak months April-June, November and December.
The Position: The Club is seeking a candidate who is well-balanced between culinary talent, staff leadership and member interaction. The Chef is responsible for all food production including that used for restaurants, banquet functions and other outlets. Develop menus, food purchase specifications and recipes. Maintains highest professional food quality and sanitation standards.
Job Requirements:
- An engaging, extroverted personality – one that both staff and membership can relate to and rally around.
- The club needs a strong chef to lead the staff and hold them accountable for their work.
- The a la carte restaurant needs consistency with the product it delivers.
- Competent in organizational, time management skills. The ability to demonstrate good judgment, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
- Chef is responsible to develop annual payroll budget and partners with leadership team to develop the overall operations budget for the hospitality areas of the Club.
- Knowledge of wine and beverage pairing with food.
- Able to work in a team environment and relate well to other department heads. Chef to be visible to members and interact in the dining room when possible.
- Strong leadership, organization, creativity, work ethic.
- Develops recipes and techniques for food preparation and presentation which help to assure a consistently high quality product.
Additional Information:
- Total annual food sales at $1.3M; total F&B Sales $2.2M.
- The desired Food cost is 39% with a sales mix of 50% a la carte and 50% banquet.
- There are 21 culinary employees including 3 Sous Chefs, supported by a $475,000 labor budget.
The current Executive Chef has been with the Club for ten (10) years.
The Club offers a competitive compensation plan including a competitive base salary based on experience and skill , ACF dues and Convention, dining allowance, dental, health & life insurance, 401k and other standard perks. Interested individuals should send resumes, a well-conceived cover letter, and supporting information (A Personal Portfolio is encouraged) in strict confidence. Click Here to upload your information.