Executive Chef

Executive Chef – Specialty Retail Markets & Catering
West Chester, PA area (overseeing two kitchen locations)

What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for an experienced Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for a specialty retail market and catering business. The role covers scratch-made prepared foods, grab-and-go, butchery and catering, with an Italian focus and room for international influence. We want a leader who brings creativity, but who values consistency, structure and results most of all.

The Role
You’ll lead a team of 35+ across two kitchen locations. First, learn our core: the recipes, standards and traditions our customers come back for. Then bring your vision and global culinary experience to expand it. We want someone who will streamline how we produce, use sales data to decide what we make and how much, and grow sales in our retail markets and catering.

What You’ll Do

Culinary Leadership

• Lead all culinary operations for multpile kitchen locations: production, prepared foods, grab-and-go, butcher and catering
• Uphold and develop our Italian, scratch-made identity as the core of every product line
• Bring international cuisines into our prepared foods, grab-and-go, specialty products and catering menus while keeping an Italian focus and a consistent house style
• Develop menus for rotating prepared foods, grab-and-go, seasonal and holiday programs, and catering
• Oversee meat fabrication and the butcher program: cutting specs, yields, trim use and case presentation
• Lead catering culinary execution, from tastings and menu planning to large-event production

Systems & Consistency

• Standardize every recipe with documented specs, batch sizes, yields, portioning, packaging and labeling
• Build production plans, par levels and prep systems that keep both kitchens consistent and efficient
• Create training programs so every product tastes the same at every location, every day
• Streamline workflows between kitchens, retail and catering to reduce waste and labor

Sales & Business

• Use sales data and POS reports to guide menus, production quantities and new product development
• Drive sales in retail and catering through new items, seasonal programs and better merchandising of prepared foods
• Manage food cost, labor cost and inventory to budget; cost recipes and help set pricing
• Work with vendors on sourcing, pricing and quality

Team Leadership

• Hire, train, schedule and develop a team of 35+, including sous chefs, cooks, butchers, production and packaging staff
• Set clear expectations, hold the team accountable, and build a positive, professional kitchen culture
• Work closely with ownership, operations, retail managers and catering sales

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all kitchens meet state and local health and food safety regulations
• Maintain food safety programs: temperature logs, sanitation, allergen control, proper labeling and dating, and FIFO
• Keep all kitchens inspection-ready at all times

Qualifications

• [5+ / 10+] years of culinary leadership experience, with at least [3] years as an Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef or Chef de Cuisine
• Experience in high-volume, multi-unit, catering, specialty retail or food production operations
• Strong Italian cooking background, plus range and experience across international cuisines, with a passion for scratch cooking
• Meat fabrication experience
• Proven record of building systems, standardizing recipes and managing food and labor costs
• Comfortable with sales data, POS reports, spreadsheets and recipe costing
• A leader who teaches, communicates clearly and holds standards
• ServSafe Manager certification required, or obtained within 30 days
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holiday seasons as needed

What We Offer

• [Salary: Very Competitive, discussed in interview]
• [Performance bonus tied to food cost, sales growth and other goals]
• [Benefits: health insurance, dental insurance, paid time off, 401K match, employee discount, etc.]
• A senior leadership role with real influence in a growing business