Executive Chef

Hornblower; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City Cruises Toronto, part of Hornblower Group, seeks an Executive Chef to lead back-of-house cruise operations in Toronto. You will oversee menu development, purchasing, inventory, and budgeting while upholding safety and sanitation standards for crew and guests.

Ideal candidates have a culinary school degree, 5+ years of high-volume kitchen experience, and at least 2 years in a leadership role. This full-time position requires night/weekend hours aboard vessels and in Toronto.

Qualifications

• Culinary School degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of experience in commercial food preparation in a high-volume environment.
• At least 2 years of kitchen management/supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee back-of-house staff recruitment, training, coaching and retention.
• Manage all food production, menu development, purchasing, inventory and recipes.
• Develop and monitor department budgets for food and labor.
• Ensure sanitation and safety standards are maintained for crew and passengers.
• Collaborate with Director of F&B on kitchen budgets and cost control.
• Monitor production data and ensure timely inventory verification.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organization

Problem solving

Education

Culinary School degree

Red Seal Certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

City Cruises Toronto ON, 425-207 Queens Quay W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Description

Posted Monday, August 31, 2026 at 7:00 a.m.

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems . Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfrontlogisticsand management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation,ticketingand website integration services for clients in the transportation,tourismand entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’sadditionalcorporate officesresidein San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visithornblowercorp.com.

Position Summary:

The Executive Chef is responsible for managing back-of-the-house cruise execution ensuring consistently high levels of creativity, quality, service, sanitation, and passenger satisfaction while maintaining a high level of profitability. He/She are responsible for all food production, including menu development, food purchasing, inventory control and recipe development; ensuring the highest level of quality and consistency as it relates to food handling, food quality and food presentations. The Executive Chef will develop and monitor a food and labour budget for the department. The Executive Chef will promote and ensure a safe and healthy environment for all crew and passengers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Cruise Execution:

• Manages back-of-the-house staff, including recruitment, training, coaching/discipline, and retention
• Ensures effective execution of each cruise (back-of-the house only)
• Identifies and deliver skills training needs for all kitchen crew
• Responsible for the organization and cleanliness of all food storage areas; this includes proper rotation of all ingredients to prevent food waste
• Ensures that all staff consistently follows and adheres to all public health recommendations and requirements thereby maintaining the Company’s strict standards of sanitation
• Establishes department priorities and execute against them based on long‑term vision and goals
• Works with Director of Food & Beverage to develop all kitchen budgets according to company guidelines
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports data related to production as needed
• Executes other projects as assigned by management
• Suggests new menu items while ensuring cost effectiveness and profitability
• Participates in monthly and quarterly inventory verification; ensuring all are completed timely and efficiently and maintains adequate supplies.

Crew Management /HR/Administration:

• Enhances the City Cruises Toronto name and reputation by delivering quality service and adhering to company policies and procedures
• Recruits new kitchen staff when necessary to fill vacant positions, in collaboration with the Human Resources department
• Delivers training of all new kitchen staff regarding safety, security, department procedures, and service guidelines
• Executes consistent standards to exceed guest expectations
• Adheres to Company’s performance management guidelines for all discipline and performance management
• Provides and direct development/career growth plans for each kitchen crew member
• Complete performance reviews of all kitchen staff within company’s performance management cycle
• Develops positive working relationships with other departments
• Monitors and controls all costs associated with the kitchen operation in accordance with budget, including but not limited to, labour and food costs
• Purchases all food products and cleaning supplies according to established procedures. Ensure timely delivery so adequate stock is available when needed
• Recommends cost savings that are consistent with company objectives
• Processes all invoices in a timely manner
• Administers payroll system including scheduling, checking, transmitting, and processing
• Maintains food, suppliers and equipment purchasing systems, which ensure maximum quality, least cost and high reliability
• Schedules kitchen employees at proper staffing levels to achieve maximum payroll efficiency and within approved labour budget, while mitigating overtime
• Ensures kitchens are clean and sanitary and is in compliance with all federal, provincial, and local laws, including health & safety, ESA, Human Rights, and service guidelines, and that all crew are familiar with these requirements
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or senior leadership

Guest Service:

• Resolves guest service issues, in conjunction with the Manager, Food and Beverage, utilizing strong guest service skills and exercising diplomacy in keeping with company objective of guest retention
• Implements and maintain effective safety programs
• Maintains high standards of sanitation in accordance with Company standards and in accordance with health department codes & requirements

Requirements & Qualifications:

Education/ Experience:

• Culinary School degree or equivalent work experience. 5 or more years of experience of commercial food preparation experience in full-service/banquet, high volume environment is required.
• At least 2 years’ kitchen management experience or supervisory capacity, with special consideration given to those who exhibit exemplary performance.

Certification and/or License Requirement:

• Interprovincial Red Seal Certification. Alcohol awareness certification and/or food service permit as required by local or provincial government agency.
• Food Handler’s Certification or HACCP Certification.

Skills:

• Leadership Skills.
• Exceptional oral/interpersonal skills and written communication aptitude to effectively communicate with guests, clients, vendors, and staff at all levels of the organization. Strong computer capabilities including MS Office use.
• Knowledge of industry standards and Legislative Policies and Procedures.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced, tam-centric and safety driven environment.
• Planning and organizational ability.
• Ability to work, problem solve and provide solutions independently.
• Genuine desire to provide customer service experiences beyond expectations.

Working Conditions:

• Will be required to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Will be required to work in fast paced, stressful environment.
• At times, especially in summer months, temperatures rise causing the work environment to reach very warm temperature levels.

City Cruises Canada does not use AI technology in any part of the recruitment process.

Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of harassment and/or discrimination of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and/or harassment based upon race, citizenship, place of origin, color, ancestry, disability, age, creed, sex/pregnancy, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic characteristics, receipt of public assistance and record of offences. City Experiences employment and workplace decisions will be based on company needs, job requirements and individual job qualifications and skills. City Experiences will comply with provincial and federal legislation relating to equal employment opportunities and employment equity.

City Cruises Toronto ON, 425-207 Queens Quay W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada