Head Chef – Gas Station Deli

Employment Type: Full-Time (40 hours per week, Monday Thru Friday), Salary ($60,000 - $90,000)

Company & About Us: We are a family-owned gas station in Paso Robles with an in-house deli that we are relaunching. Our goal is to create a profitable, high-quality breakfast, lunch, and grab-and-go menu for our customers. We are looking for a hands-on Head Chef who is as focused on operational efficiency and profitability as they are on delicious, high-quality food.

We are not looking for a consultant but rather someone committed to helping build and sustain a successful deli. The ideal candidate will be a responsible leader with a hands-on approach, strong food cost management skills, and the ability to manage and train a team effectively.

Position Summary: The Head Chef will lead the menu development, kitchen operations, hiring, and food cost management for our deli. This role requires a combination of culinary expertise and business acumen to ensure the deli is profitable, efficient, and well-managed. The Head Chef will be directly responsible for minimizing food waste, managing inventory, and creating a recipe book that ensures consistency and quality in our offerings.We are looking for a chef with strong leadership skills who can mentor a team, maintain high standards, and keep operations running smoothly. This is a hands-on role, and we need someone who leads by example in the kitchen.

Key Responsibilities:

• Menu Development: Create a breakfast, lunch, and grab-and-go menu that is profitable and appealing to customers.
• Hiring & Team Management: Recruit, train, and manage kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Food Cost Management: Control food costs, minimize waste, and implement cost-effective sourcing strategies.
• Operations & Efficiency: Establish efficient kitchen workflows to maximize productivity and maintain consistency.
• Recipe Development & Documentation: Develop standardized recipes and maintain a recipe book for consistency and training purposes.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Ensure all food handling and preparation meet health and safety standards. Must have or be willing to obtain a Manager’s Food Handler Certificate.
• Customer Satisfaction: Maintain high food quality and presentation standards to enhance the customer experience.
• Collaboration: Work with ownership to set and achieve financial goals for the deli.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a deli, café, or high-volume fast-casual kitchen.
• Strong business sense—understanding food costs, labor costs, and profitability.
• Experience managing teams and hiring reliable staff.
• Passion for fresh, high-quality food with an innovative approach.
• Ability to stay organized, work efficiently, and lead by example.
• Must have or be willing to obtain a Manager’s Food Handler Certificate.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Opportunity to build a deli from the ground up with creative freedom.
• Supportive, family-owned business with long-term stability.
• Hands-on leadership role with a direct impact on success.

Purpose:

The purpose of this job posting is to provide a summary of the essential job functions and the level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. This description is not an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by this position. Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and assign other duties as necessary.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Shift:

• Day shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Paso Robles, CA 93446: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000 - $90,000