Pastry Chef

Job Description

The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center (Formally known as Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center) is searching for a Pastry Chef to join our team!

The Pastry Chef will lead the creation, design, and production of all desserts, pastries, and baked goods for The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center, ensuring each offering reflects the sophistication, warmth, and creativity of our brand. This position will oversee dessert preparation for all events, restaurant, and catering menus while maintaining exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation standards.

The ideal candidate is a passionate artisan who thrives in a collaborative environment, demonstrates precision and innovation in pastry arts, and takes pride in delivering memorable culinary experiences for our guests.

Tucked in a 15-acre park-like setting just North of Columbus, Ohio, our property offers a complete collection of services and amenities for an all-inclusive experience. Our hotel has 193 stylishly appointed guest rooms and suites to delight leisure travelers, while our 45,000 square feet of customizable meeting spaces are sophisticated yet comfortable and offer state-of-the-art technology to create a dynamic setting for meetings and special events.

Our attractive compensation package includes a competitive annual salary, medical, dental, vision, company paid life, 401k with match, STD/LTD, and many more supplemental plans.

Other perks and benefits! Come work with us, and you'll receive dining and travel discounts, special offers from our business partners, use of the hotel gym, 5 free nights in the hotel each year for your friends or family, dry cleaning discounts, discounts on shoes, free parking, free employee meals, etc. Not to mention all of the smiles, laughs, and good times that are always complimentary.

Primary Responsibilities:

Develop and execute all pastry and dessert menus for banquets, restaurant outlets, and special events.

Design and test new recipes that showcase seasonal ingredients and align with The Ohioan’s culinary vision.

Supervise the daily pastry production schedule, ensuring efficiency and accuracy for multiple event functions.

Train, mentor, and motivate pastry and culinary staff to uphold the highest standards of craft and presentation.

Maintain precise control over food quality, inventory, and portion standards to meet budgeted food and labor cost goals.

Ensure all production sheets, recipes, and plating standards are clearly documented and followed.

Collaborate closely with the Executive Chef, Sous Chef, and Director of Culinary on event planning, menu creation, and themed experiences.

Maintain cleanliness, organization, and sanitation standards in all pastry and baking areas in accordance with local health codes.

Monitor the receiving and storage of pastry ingredients to ensure freshness and quality.

Participate in daily production meetings and pre-event tastings to ensure alignment with guest expectations.

Manage ordering, par levels, and inventory to prevent waste while maintaining readiness for upcoming events.

Create specialty items such as celebration cakes, plated desserts, petit fours, and breakfast pastries for high-profile events.

Uphold The Ohioan’s culture of excellence, creativity, and hospitality, inspiring pride and craftsmanship across the culinary team.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Culinary or Executive Chef.

Qualifications, Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities:

Minimum 2 years of pastry or baking experience in a high-volume or upscale culinary environment.

Supervisory or management experience preferred.

Degree or certification in Pastry Arts or Culinary Arts strongly preferred.

ServSafe certification or equivalent food safety training required.

Proven ability to design and execute elegant, modern, and consistent pastry presentations.

Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills with the ability to train and inspire others.

Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities while maintaining composure and precision.

Creativity, curiosity, and passion for ingredient sourcing, seasonality, and evolving culinary trends.

Must demonstrate genuine hospitality and a commitment to exceeding guest expectations.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly and occasionally exert up to 80 pounds of force.

Ability to stand for extended periods of time in a fast-paced kitchen environment.

Manual dexterity and precision required for fine pastry work and equipment operation.

Schedule and Availability:

Flexible schedule with availability for weekends, evenings, and holidays based on business demand.

Peak Business periods include Saturdays and major event weekends.

Travel:

Minimal local travel may be required for training, vendor visits, or off-site events.

Valid driver's license required.

The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center (Formally known as Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center) is managed by Columbus Hospitality Management, a company committed to providing quality service and memorable guest experiences in a positive and welcoming work environment. We are focused on supporting the needs of our team through our commitment to the family/work life balance and by providing development opportunities.

We are proud to be a Drug Free Workplace/EOE. All applicants will be required to submit to a background check prior to employment.

Full-time