CDC

Full-Time | Weekends Required

Sam’s Restaurant, a historic Italian neighborhood institution in Brooklyn, is seeking an experienced, hands-on Executive Chef to oversee all aspects of our kitchen operations.

The Executive Chef will be responsible for leading the kitchen team, maintaining food quality and consistency, managing costs and inventory, overseeing ordering and scheduling, and ensuring a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen.

This is a working chef position. The Executive Chef must be comfortable getting behind the line and cooking when necessary, including covering stations during busy services, call-outs, or staffing shortages.

• Oversee all daily kitchen operations from prep through service and closing.

• Lead, train, schedule, and manage all kitchen staff.

• Maintain high standards for food quality, consistency, portioning, and presentation.

• Work the line and cook as needed during service.

• Oversee Sam’s brick-oven pizza program, including dough preparation, pizza production, oven operation, and staff training.

• Manage food ordering, inventory, receiving, storage, and waste.

• Monitor food costs, labor, and portion control.

• Develop and maintain recipes, prep systems, and kitchen procedures.

• Collaborate with ownership on menu development, specials, and private events.

• Ensure compliance with NYC Department of Health and food-safety requirements.

• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and professional kitchen.

• Lead kitchen execution for private parties and special events.

• 5+ years of professional kitchen experience, including leadership/management experience.

• Strong Italian or Italian-American cooking background preferred.

• Brick-oven pizza experience strongly preferred.

• Proven ability to manage a busy restaurant kitchen.

• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience with ordering, inventory, scheduling, and food-cost management.

• Must be willing and able to work directly on the line when needed.

• Weekend availability is required, including Friday and Saturday evenings.

• ServSafe or equivalent certification preferred.

We are looking for a chef who is hands-on, accountable, organized, and passionate about great food—someone who can effectively manage the kitchen while also stepping onto the line and leading by example.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in maintaining and growing the food program at a beloved Brooklyn restaurant with a strong Italian-American identity.