What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Chef position at The Local Open?
Overview
We are seeking a passionate, hands-on Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our dynamic culinary team. This role is ideal for a driven individual with strong leadership skills, a commitment to kitchen excellence, and a love for scratch cooking. Experience with handmade or artisan-style pizzas is highly preferred, as our menu features high-quality, chef-driven takes on both classic and creative pizzas.
Key Responsibilities
The Local Open is a growing concept that believes in empowering our team, celebrating creativity, and serving food that people genuinely crave. If you're a culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced kitchen, knows how to build an exceptional team, and loves working with fresh ingredients—and especially if you’re passionate about artisan pizza—we’d love to meet you!
Employment Type: Full Time
Years Experience: 5 - 10 years
Salary: $55,000 - $85,000 Annual
Bonus/Commission: Yes
We are seeking a passionate, hands-on Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our dynamic culinary team. This role is ideal for a driven individual with strong leadership skills, a commitment to kitchen excellence, and a love for scratch cooking. Experience with handmade or artisan-style pizzas is highly preferred, as our menu features high-quality, chef-driven takes on both classic and creative pizzas.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee all kitchen operations, including prep, line execution, and service flow
- Lead, train, and inspire the kitchen team to deliver consistent, high-quality results
- Recruit and develop a qualified, elite-level kitchen staff that reflects the standards of our concept
- Maintain food quality, consistency, and presentation to brand standards
- Collaborate with ownership on creative new menu items and specials
- Manage inventory, food cost controls, and vendor relationships
- Utilize restaurant technology systems to manage scheduling, ordering, and reporting
- Ensure kitchen cleanliness and food safety standards are always met (and exceeded)
- Collaborate with the FOH team to ensure a seamless guest experience
- Troubleshoot kitchen challenges with a calm, solutions-first mindset
- 5 years of experience as an Executive Chef (Kitchen Manager experience is a plus)
- Strong background in high-volume or fast-casual kitchens with a focus on quality
- Prior experience with artisan pizza-making, wood-fired ovens, or scratch dough production is a major plus
- Proven track record of team leadership, development, and retention
- Demonstrated ability to create and execute innovative menu items
- Comfortable with kitchen management systems and digital tools
- Experience with Toast POS and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc.) is a plus
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification or equivalent required
- Current Manager Certificate (Food Manager's License) required or ability to obtain before hire
- Spanish-speaking ability is a strong plus, but not required
- Passion for great food, high standards, and continuous improvement
The Local Open is a growing concept that believes in empowering our team, celebrating creativity, and serving food that people genuinely crave. If you're a culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced kitchen, knows how to build an exceptional team, and loves working with fresh ingredients—and especially if you’re passionate about artisan pizza—we’d love to meet you!
Employment Type: Full Time
Years Experience: 5 - 10 years
Salary: $55,000 - $85,000 Annual
Bonus/Commission: Yes
Salary : $55,000 - $85,000