Chef de Cuisine

Camper; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Camper in Menlo Park, CA is seeking a Chef de Cuisine to lead our on-site kitchen operations and ensure exceptional, scratch-made dishes reflecting our evolving menu.

You will train and mentor the kitchen team, coordinate with front-of-house, manage inventory and costs, and uphold safety standards while delivering guest-focused hospitality.

This full-time role demands flexible hours, weekend availability, and a passion for seasonal, local ingredients.

Qualifications

• Effective communication with kitchen and front-of-house teams.
• Strong skills in food preparation and cooking in a scratch kitchen.
• Solid understanding of hygiene and food safety standards and local health regs.
• Customer-service mindset delivering memorable guest experiences.
• Supervisory/lead cook experience preferred for Chef de Cuisine or Sous Chef roles.
• Ability to manage inventory and control food and labor costs.
• Flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays as required.
• Culinary training or equivalent experience; seasonal, locally sourced ingredients a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and menu execution.
• Lead, train, and mentor kitchen staff.
• Coordinate with front-of-house leadership.
• Maintain high-quality dishes reflecting Camper's evolving menu.
• Manage inventory and uphold safety and sanitation standards.
• Support menu development and specials.
• Foster a positive, guest-centric hospitality environment.

Skills

Communication

Food prep & cooking

Food safety standards

Customer service

Leadership experience

Inventory management

Cost control

Flexible hours

Culinary training

Seasonal ingredients

Job description

Company Description Camper is a neighborhood-focused restaurant, opened in 2018, offering an interesting yet approachable dining experience in the heart of Silicon Valley. The team crafts an ever-changing menu of food and drinks, emphasizing creativity, quality, and seasonality. With seating for 75 guests in the main dining room, 20 on the patio, and up to 50 in a private dining room, Camper hosts a variety of guest experiences and events. The restaurant culture centers on being flexible, accommodating, and friendly, with a strong commitment to engaging hospitality and teamwork.

Role Description The Chef de Cuisine is a full-time, on-site leadership role based at Camper in Menlo Park, CA. This role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day kitchen operations, including menu execution, food preparation, and service quality. The Chef de Cuisine will lead, train, and mentor kitchen team members, coordinate with front-of-house leadership, and ensure consistent, high-quality dishes that reflect Camper's evolving menu and style. Daily tasks include managing inventory, sourcing ingredients, maintaining food and labor cost targets, and upholding all safety and sanitation standards. The role also involves contributing to menu development, collaborating on specials, and supporting a positive, professional work environment aligned with Camper's guest-centric hospitality.

Qualifications

• Effective Communication abilities for coordinating with kitchen and front-of-house teams.
• Strong skills in Food Preparation and Cooking, with experience in a high-quality, scratch kitchen.
• Solid understanding of Hygiene and food safety standards, including compliance with local health regulations.
• Customer Service mindset focused on delivering consistent, memorable guest experiences through food and hospitality.
• Proven experience in a supervisory or lead cook role; prior Chef de Cuisine or Sous Chef experience is preferred.
• Ability to manage inventory, control food and labor costs, and maintain organized kitchen operations.
• Capacity to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the restaurant schedule.
• Culinary training or equivalent professional experience; familiarity with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients is a plus.