Culinary Lead

Job Summary

Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena is seeking a Culinary Lead to manage a growing culinary program. The current culinary program consists of wood fired pizzas, elevated food, wine, and caviar experiences, and cheese and charcuterie. The Culinary Lead will be creative in growing the culinary program while staying within licensing requirements.

This is an opportunity to work in one of Napa Valley's most stunning tasting rooms, named one of the "Top 10 California Tasting Experiences" by Food & Wine, winner of the Architecture and Landscapes Award for Best of Wine Tourism and voted #1 Winery in the World for Art and Culture by Great Wine Capitals People's Choice Award in 2022. C. Mondavi & Family/Charles Krug has also been recognized as a Top Workplace by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2022 and 2023.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• Manage the operation of all culinary offerings and ensure the highest food quality and sanitations standards are maintained.
• Manage Pizza Cook.
• Bring creativity to the culinary program by maximizing culinary options that work within current licensing.
• Oversee ordering, receiving, inspection and safe storage of all food orders.
• Understand and manage food costs and budgets.
• Manage wood-fired pizza program through Summer & Fall season and plan alternate menu for winter & spring months.
• Partner with front of house to manage pre-reserved food related experiences or add-ons such as cheese & charcuterie boards and pizza.
• Work with and collaborate with the Tasting Room Manager on menu planning, staff training, food and wine tastings and other creative offerings throughout the year.
• Coordinate with partners and vendors to fulfill food experiences, such as caviar & wine pairing utilizing our branded caviar.
• Prepare the food needs daily based on reservations.
• Coordinate with event and private client coordinators when additional assistance is needed for on-site events or private on-site experiences.
• Cater to and manage dietary restrictions to ensure the safety of our guests.
• Open and close kitchen and maintain cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with all federal and state laws regarding food service.

Qualifications (work experience, preferred skills, and education)

• Specialized/technical training such as a Certificate of Completion from a culinary institute, a minimum of 2 years of related experience or equivalent education experience.
• General wine industry knowledge with a discerning palate for tasting and evaluating wine & food.
• Previous management or supervisory experience in the wine and/or food industry.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to communicate and connect with guests.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and scheduling skills; highly accurate, organized, and detail oriented, with strong time management.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and periodic evenings, plus scheduling flexibility to ensure staffing needs are met.
• Must have experience with pizzas/wood fired pizza oven.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have current Food Handlers certificate.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work outdoors for 8 hours at a time.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment

At C. Mondavi & Family, we believe a diverse workforce drives forward thinking, innovative ideas and better decision making. We believe diverse leaders and employees bring fresh thinking, strategies, techniques, and perspectives that make us better at everything we do. C. Mondavi & Family embraces diversity and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for candidates with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let us know. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The base pay scale offered for this position is $24-$26 per hour. The range represents what we reasonably expect to pay for this position, but the actual compensation offered will depend upon numerous job-related factors, including but not limited to candidate qualifications, skills, experience, education, location, and alignment with market data. The Company reserves the right to modify the range in the future.