Executive Chef - Southern Steak & Oyster - Nashville Airport

The Executive Chef is responsible for leading the kitchen team and overseeing all culinary operations. This role involves ensuring the highest quality of food preparation and maintaining strict food safety and sanitation standards. The Executive Chef manages kitchen staff, controls food costs, and collaborates with front-of-house management to deliver an exceptional dining experience. Strong leadership, creativity, and a commitment to excellence are essential for success in this role.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure smooth and efficient service.
• Manage and supervise kitchen staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure all dishes are prepared to the highest quality and consistency.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, sanitation, and hygiene in compliance with health regulations.
• Monitor food inventory and order supplies to ensure kitchen is well-stocked.
• Control food costs and manage kitchen budget effectively.
• Collaborate with front-of-house management to coordinate service and optimize guest satisfaction.
• Inspect kitchen equipment and arrange for maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Train kitchen staff on culinary techniques, food safety procedures, and kitchen operations.
• Monitor and evaluate kitchen staff performance, providing feedback and coaching as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all restaurant policies, procedures, and standards.
  
  

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Genuine interest in providing a positive guest experience
• Friendly, outgoing, approachable personality
• Ability to work well with others and support a positive work environment
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Dependable
• Flexible to work nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to follow all guidelines and procedures set forth by FMS/Skyport, brand partners, airport, federal, state, and local employment regulations
• Strong communication skills and ability to handle stressful situations
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to exercise good judgment
• Ability to use basic math; e.g., addition, subtraction, and basic fractions
  
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School diploma and some college preferred.
• 5 years of progressive culinary experience in a professional kitchen, with at least 3 years in a supervisory role.
• Experience in menu development, cost control, and inventory management.
• ServeSafe Certified
  
  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Airport: This position operates in a climate-controlled international airport environment. The temperature, volume of noise, and exposure to the public is outside the control of First Meridian Services, Inc. The position requires use of public spaces as provided by the airport.

Restaurant: This position may require frequent exposure to a restaurant or retail operation environment. Regular exposure to varying temperatures (hot/cold/freezing), fumes, vapors, industrial restaurant equipment, noise, and guests will be a common occurrence.

The nature of restaurant work requires the Executive Chef to possess certain physical abilities. Those listed here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform this job. Most of the workday is spent standing or walking and working in close proximity to others. Eye-hand coordination, depth perception, finger dexterity, and functional vision and speech perception are required. Some bending, crouching, pushing/pulling and lifting/lowering of 20-50 lbs. Some repetitive motions with hands, wrists, or arms. Must be able to operate all equipment used in the restaurant. Some exposure to skin irritants, electrical equipment, and sharp instruments. Risk to these exposures is minimized by strict adherence to company standards, policies and procedures.

BENEFITS & PERKS:

• Pay range $75,000-100,000
• Bonus potential 
• Free Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Employee Meal Program
• Paid time off
• 401(k) plan
• Career Training and Advancement Opportunities
• And did we mention…working with great people

*First Meridian Services utilizes E-Verify to confirm work eligibility within the US.

*First Meridian Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or protected veteran status.

Salary : $75,000 - $100,000