Chef

Il Fornaio; Del Mar (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

Education Assistance

Dining Discounts

Job summary

Il Fornaio in Del Mar, CA is seeking an experienced Chef to lead the kitchen with a focus on culinary standards, people, and performance. Own culinary and operational performance, partner with the General Manager and regional leadership, and mentor the team while managing the numbers to uphold brand standards.

This role emphasizes training, cost control, sanitation, and guest experience, with compensation in the $90,000–$105,000 range plus bonus and a full benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of Kitchen Management experience with strong leadership.
• Bi-lingual Spanish preferred.
• Strong culinary judgment and knowledge of labor, cost, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Ensure consistent execution of recipes, food quality, and presentation.
• Train, coach, and develop kitchen managers and hourly staff.
• Manage labor, food cost, inventory, purchasing, waste, and productivity.
• Drive operational performance and continuous improvement without compromising quality.
• Partner with restaurant leadership to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Foster a kitchen culture of accountability, respect, and clear communication.

Skills

Kitchen Management

Culinary Leadership

Team Development

Food Safety

Labor Management

Mentorship

Education

Culinary Arts degree

Tools

BOH systems

Inventory management

Costing programs

Job description

Culinary Leadership | Operational Excellence | Team Development

Great food needs great leadership behind it.

At Il Fornaio, the Chef leads the kitchen with equal focus on culinary standards, people, and performance. This is an opportunity for an experienced Chef who cares about the food, values structure and consistency, and knows operational discipline is what makes a great kitchen sustainable.

The Opportunity

Own the culinary and operational performance of the kitchen while partnering with the General Manager and regional culinary leadership. Lead the food, develop the team, manage the numbers, and keep standards high every day.

What You'll Lead

• Consistent execution of recipes, food quality, presentation, food safety, sanitation, and Il Fornaio culinary standards.
• Training, coaching, and development of kitchen managers and hourly team members.
• Labor, food cost, inventory, purchasing, waste, and productivity with an ownership mindset.
• Operational performance and continuous improvement without compromising culinary quality.
• Partnership with restaurant leadership to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• A professional kitchen culture built on accountability, respect, clear communication, and follow-through.
• Awareness of culinary trends and guest preferences, bringing relevant ideas back to the business while maintaining brand standards.

What You Bring

• 5-7 years of Kitchen Management experience; in-depth knowledge of Northern Italian cuisine preferred.
• Bi-lingual Spanish preferred.
• Strong culinary judgment and working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, labor management, food cost, inventory, purchasing, and kitchen operations.
• High emotional intelligence, strong mentorship skills, active listening, and the ability to develop and lead teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with standard business technology and BOH systems, including inventory, recipe management, and costing programs.
• Culinary Arts degree or specialized culinary skills training or certification(s) a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What You'll Receive

• Competitive Compensation in the range of $90,000 - $105,000 annually plus bonus opportunities
• Complete benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K, and employee assistance program
• Accrued Paid Vacation starting at 2 weeks annually (separate accrued sick time)
• Education Assistance and Dining Discounts

Il Fornaio is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.