Head Chef & Kitchen Manager

Arrowleaf

Idaho City, ID - Permanent full-time exempt position

Who We Are

Arrowleaf, a new year-round contemporary casual full-service restaurant brand and events venue in the heart of Idaho City’s historic district, is hiring for the role of Head Chef & Kitchen Manager. This role combines visionary culinary expertise with strong kitchen managerial skills to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality dining for guests, as well as smooth, streamlined kitchen operations for the Arrowleaf team.

Who You Are

You are a thoughtful, creative chef and kitchen leader who is passionate about good food, team mentorship, and curating exceptional dining experiences. The quality of your dishes speaks for itself, and importantly, your approach to people and interpersonal circumstances is warm, proactive, curious, and open-minded. 

You diverge sharply from the belief that restaurant kitchens should be abusive environments. You earnestly value and embody kindness and clear communication in your professional environment and relationships, and help set this standard for the Arrowleaf team.

Key Responsibilities:

Arrowleaf’s Head Chef & Kitchen Manager will demonstrate:

Visionary Culinary Leadership

• Co-develop Arrowleaf brunch, lunch and dinner menus, weekly fresh sheet offerings, recipes, and presentations for full-service restaurant offerings, plus catered selections, beer, wine, and mocktail pairings
• Prep and chef in a contemporary casual style, combining presentation elements of fine dining with (in many cases) simple, down-to-earth recipes that convey an elevated yet accessible dining experience to delight and retain guests
• Ensure consistent food quality and presentation, using a fine dining model for food preparation and waste management guidelines

Creative, Efficient Kitchen Management

• Collaborate with restaurant ownership to design grocery lists, order ingredients, and manage distributor and supply chain elements of the business
• Lead, perform, and document inventory for all ingredients and kitchen supplies on a regular cadence
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment

Unconventional Staff Hiring, Development, & Retention

• Collaborate with restaurant ownership to hire, mentor, train, and retain dependable kitchen staff in a completely unique non-hierarchical environment that is purposefully designed to foster innovation, productivity, physical and emotional safety, and creativity for all team members

Operations Finesse

• Design, lead, and refine chef and kitchen activities across all culinary offerings
• Lead, ensure, and hold the team accountable to food safety and sanitation practices as required by all applicable municipal, state, and federal laws

Catering and Special Events Leadership

• Lead and chef for on- and off-site catering services on an ad hoc basis
• Co-design, plan, and execute menus and details for special events

• B.S. Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Services Technology / Management or related field; OR A.O.S. Degree in Culinary Arts with additional specialized training, OR 2-5 years of relevant culinary experience
• Standout leadership,  interpersonal, customer service, and oral communication skills
• Deep knowledge of menu design principles, ingredient costs, and other key product and quality considerations for contemporary casual dining, erring on the side of fine dining
• Advanced knowledge of the contemporary casual food service niche and a strong appetite for staying ahead of industry trends with a focus on quality, consistency, production, safety, and presentation
• Strong kitchen management skills, people skills, and organizational skills
• Excellent culinary knowledge, food preparation skills, and presentation
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Manager-level food safety certification (e.g., ServSafe)
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds

• Total starting annual salaried compensation up to $75,000 (base tips bonuses)
• Visionary ownership of the Arrowleaf dining experience, including oversight and leading contribution to multiple house menus and catering menus as well as all kitchen operations and workflows
• Creative, innovative, collaborative work environment where everyone’s unique voice and strengths are heard, valued, metabolized, and engaged with care and respect
• Consistent professional development and business mentorship opportunities with ownership
• Potential option to rent fully furnished one-bedroom apartment on site with jacuzzi if relocating from Boise or elsewhere
• Select benefits

To apply for this role, please submit your resumé, cover letter, and any relevant certifications to Hello@arrowleafidaho.com

Arrowleaf LLC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.