Required Years of Experience
3 years
Job Details
The project will include multiple food and beverage experiences, creating an opportunity for a chef who is equally engaged by the creative and operational sides of the role. We are looking for a thoughtful culinary leader with a strong point of view, sound judgment, and the ability to translate ideas into a consistent and well-run operation.
The Role
- Lead the development and execution of the culinary program from pre-opening through launch and ongoing operations
- Collaborate with the culinary and senior leadership teams on menu development, culinary direction, sourcing, and the overall food experience
- Build the BOH organizational structure and recruit, hire, train, and develop a strong opening team
- Lead menu development, tastings, recipe documentation, costing, and ongoing refinement
- Establish kitchen systems, SOPs, production standards, training tools, and quality controls
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with vendors, purveyors, and suppliers, with a focus on quality and consistency
- Own food cost, culinary labor, purchasing, inventory, waste, and other key financial and operational metrics
- Partner with finance and leadership on budgets, forecasting, and P&L performance
- Maintain high standards of organization, cleanliness, food safety, sanitation, and DOH compliance
- Develop culinary leaders through clear expectations, coaching, accountability, and ongoing training
- Foster a kitchen culture centered on professionalism, collaboration, curiosity, and respect
- Partner closely with FOH leadership to ensure a cohesive experience across culinary and service
- Remain actively engaged in service and day-to-day execution while continuing to evolve the culinary program after opening
Experience & Leadership
- Significant experience as an Executive Chef or senior culinary leader within high-quality, full-service restaurants
- Experience opening a restaurant or developing a culinary program from its early stages strongly preferred
- Strong culinary instincts and a clear point of view, balanced by an understanding of consistency, execution, and the needs of the operation
- Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing culinary teams
- Strong command of food and labor costs, purchasing, inventory, budgeting, and kitchen financial performance
- Highly organized and comfortable creating structure, systems, and standards from the ground up
- A composed and accountable leader who communicates clearly and leads with consistency
- Collaborative in approach and comfortable working across culinary, operations, finance, and senior leadership
- Hands-on and detail-oriented, with a genuine commitment to both the food and the people responsible for executing it
- Motivated by the opportunity to build a culinary program and team with a long-term perspective
Benefits
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Robust Paid Time Off Policy
- Performance-Based Incentive Plan
- Paid Parental Leave
- Commuter Benefits
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Dining Discounts across Mattos Hospitality
- Employee Assistance Program
Physical Demands
The physical demands for this position include seeing, hearing, speaking, reaching, frequently lifting up to 25 pounds, occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds, standing for extended periods, bending, and moving intermittently throughout working hours.
NOTE: JOB DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON BUSINESS NECESSITY.
Mattos Hospitality reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities as business needs evolve. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications associated with the position.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Mattos Hospitality is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Compensation Details
Compensation: Salary ($170,000.00 - $185,000.00)
Benefits & Perks: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Time Off, Commuter Benefits, Potential Bonuses, Dining Discounts, Wellness Program
Required Skills
Leadership
Creativity
Operational Management
Team Building
Communication
Vendor Relationship Management
Strategic Planning
Problem Solving
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Part of Mattos Hospitality
Our Purpose
At Mattos Hospitality our purpose is to create memorable and joyful experiences for our community through commitment to each others development, creativity, and craftsmanship.
About Us
In 2013, Ignacio Mattos opened Estela on Houston Street in the space that once housed the Knitting Factory music venue. With a deep wine list and a bar serving cocktails late into every evening, Estela is a place that takes inspiration from the busy, dependable restaurants that Mattos loves to visit around the world but that is also firmly rooted in downtown New York City.
In early 2016, he opened his second restaurant on Spring Street in SoHo, the Italian restaurant Café Altro Paradiso. Since its opening, Estela has been named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and has received a Michelin Star, in addition to a wide range of best-of local and national publications, and Ignacio was nominated for a James Beard Best Chef: New York award in 2017 .
Located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Lodi which opened in September 2021, draws inspiration from Italian aperitivo culture and the Art Deco architecture of the bakery and restaurants’ surroundings. Ignacio Mattos and his team envision Lodi as a neighborhood anchor both elegant and friendly that matches its historic address. It is a place you can visit any time of day, whether for a quick morning espresso or a leisurely late-afternoon cocktail on the plaza.
In 2022, the group led the food and beverage program for a luxury, boutique hotel - Nine Orchard - in a beautiful period building on the Lower East Side. This includes: an elegant, upscale restaurant, a neighborhood bar, lounge, rooftop bar, in-room dining and a number of private event spaces.








