Chef de Cuisine, New Restaurant Opening

Naked Farmer Careers; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Profit-sharing incentives

Annual paid vacation

Affordable health, dental, and vision insurance

Opportunities for career progression

Complimentary Naked Farmer meal daily

Parking reimbursement

Job summary

A leading farm-to-table restaurant group in Florida is seeking a Chef De Cuisine to lead culinary operations at their St. Petersburg location. You will manage the kitchen team, oversee food quality, and ensure efficient kitchen operations while upholding high standards for ingredients and service. The ideal candidate will have a passion for food and mentoring future chefs. Enjoy competitive salary, profit-sharing, and daily meals as part of a vibrant work culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' experience leading a culinary team in a high-volume setting.
• Strong work ethic and ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Adaptable interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary team and ensure efficient kitchen operations.
• Manage food preparation, menu planning, and staffing.
• Uphold health and safety protocols in the kitchen.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Leadership

Communication skills

Quality control

Team collaboration

Job description

200 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33701

CHEF DE CUISINE

As we prepare to reopen our St Pete location in March 2026, we are seeking a highly driven and operationally excellent Chef de Cuisine (CDC) to lead the culinary execution from day one with our new team. This role is responsible for rebuilding and developing the kitchen team, upholding our standards for clean, high-quality ingredients, and ensuring flawless execution in a fast-paced, open-kitchen environment. The CDC will play a critical leadership role in reestablishing the tone, culture, and performance standards that define this restaurant’s next chapter of success.

Naked Farmer is a pioneering farm-to-table restaurant group with multiple locations across Florida, cooking and serving scratch-made, healthy, and affordable meals. Our restaurants celebrate the seasonality of vegetables and the spirit of innovation, striving to create a sustainable food system that strengthens the connection between farmers and the community.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As Chef De Cuisine, you will lead the culinary team in our scratch kitchen, acting as the culinary nuts-and-bolts of our restaurant. Your role will be to manage and guide your team of chefs to run an efficient kitchen where chefs love to work. With a talent for balancing culinary excellence with operational savvy, you will lead and inspire others, demonstrating both leadership and culinary skills. Your ability to maintain strong relationships with farmers, partners, and suppliers is essential, as is your oversight of daily kitchen operations, adherence to sanitation standards, and maintenance of kitchen equipment. You will be responsible for supervising food preparation, menu planning, staffing, and ensuring that every kitchen station operates smoothly.

BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary and a vibrant work culture
• Profit-sharing incentives
• Annual paid vacation
• Affordable health, dental, and vision insurance
• Opportunities for career progression within our rapidly growing company
• A complimentary Naked Farmer meal daily
• Parking Reimbursement

At Naked Farmer, we are cultivating the next generation chefs. Our scratch-based kitchens are a hub for individuals passionate about real, good food. Your passion for cooking delicious food will be evident as you are a farmer of people who enjoys helping other chefs master various cooking stations, ensuring each recipe is prepared consistently to showcase the best of the season. You will inspire and lead those eager to share their love for cooking and transform others into skilled chefs. If you are driven by a sense of purpose and a craving for shaping the future of food, join us on our mission to build a better food system.

YOU WILL

• Cultivate a kitchen culture that embodies our best practices and standards, inspiring your team through every service.
• Lead and mentor the chef trainees, setting an example of culinary expertise and positivity to consistently deliver exceptional food.
• Guarantee the quality and presentation of food across all business channels, treating dine-in, pick-up, and delivery orders with equal dedication.
• Act as the go-to resource for the kitchen staff on recipe inquiries, preparation checklists, and food quality, maintaining order and consistency.
• Manage the receipt and quality control of fresh ingredients from our farm partners, and oversee inventory, supplies, and quality assurance processes.
• Organize prep lists and collaborate with the Chef Operator on food inventory and ordering to ensure the kitchen is well-prepared and organized.
• Setup your team for success on each service by managing the deployment board and prep schedules effectively.
• Perform line checks, assess readiness of food, anticipate needs, and manage potential waste to ensure seamless service.
• Set the kitchen up for success, completing all tasks with timeliness and a focus on safety.
• Introduce and test food preparation techniques that enhance kitchen efficiency, and remain open to innovative systems and processes.
• Uphold stringent kitchen operations, including storage, labeling, preparation, and safety protocols, ensuring compliance with health standards and guidelines.
• Lead in placing orders and managing kitchen facilities, and collaborate with the Chef Operator on labor and food costs.
• Grow your kitchen team through active recruitment, training, performance management, mentorship, and disciplinary procedures when necessary.

YOU HAVE

• A minimum of 2 years' experience leading a culinary team in a high-volume setting.
• A deep passion for quality food and a desire to constantly improve.
• Strong culinary expertise with a willingness to learn and adapt.
• A proven work ethic and the ability to perform the job's physical demands, such as lifting up to 50 pounds.
• A collaborative spirit and readiness to contribute as needed.
• Respect and appreciation for your team and a commitment to fostering a positive work environment.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• A vision for mentoring and developing chefs into future restaurant leaders.
• Reliability and a consistent performance record.
• Adaptable interpersonal skills and the ability to meet new challenges with agility.
• An unwavering attention to detail.

ABOUT NAKED FARMER

Born during a global pandemic, Naked Farmer quickly adapted, delivering fresh food directly from farm to doorstep. Our ethos is founded on resilience, transparency, and telling the story of the farmers behind our local food supply. With a commitment to becoming 100% locally-sourced, we are now embarking on an expansion phase, opening new locations and furthering our mission of transparency in sourcing and cooking while supporting local farmers, communities, and chefs. Currently operating six restaurants in Tampa Bay and South Florida, we are in the process of adding six more across the state over the next 18 months.

And yes, all employees enjoy complimentary Naked Farmer meals every day—don't miss out on the sweet potatoes.

Join us as we build the future of food together.