Chef de Cuisine — Open-Air, Multi-Concept Kitchen Leader

On Top Of The World Communities; Ocala (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nest at Calesa in Ocala seeks an Opening Chef de Cuisine to lead culinary operations across Cow Bird Kitchen, Faregrounds concepts, catering, and special events. You will shape kitchen culture, set standards, and drive guest experiences with a hands-on, safety-minded leadership style.

You will build a high-performing team, manage food cost, and partner with events to deliver premium service in a dynamic, outdoor setting. Experience in opening concepts is highly valued.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Prior Chef de Cuisine, Executive Sous Chef, Executive Chef, or comparable leadership experience in a full-service restaurant, multi-unit, event venue, resort, or catered-event environment.
• Barbecue, smoke-forward cooking, live-fire, or broad multi-cuisine restaurant experience is a meaningful strength; translate concepts into approachable guest experiences.
• Demonstrated multi-outlet experience across restaurant service, quick-service concepts, catering, and high-volume special events.
• Proven food-cost, procurement, labor-management, purchasing, inventory, and P&L acumen.
• Experience leading and developing culinary teams across multiple venues, service styles, or dayparts.
• Opening experience strongly preferred.
• ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop a high-performing culinary leadership team across Cow Bird Kitchen, Faregrounds, event catering, and stewarding operations through recruitment, training, coaching, and retention.
• Establish a kitchen culture of accountability, respect, creativity, collaboration, urgency, and pride in execution.
• Coach, recognize, and retain team members by setting clear expectations and providing development opportunities.
• Lead with composure, humility, and a genuine commitment to team well-being, success, and safety.
• Lead the culinary identity and execution of Cow Bird Kitchen with a smoke-forward, family-friendly concept.
• Develop and maintain recipes, plating standards, prep systems, production guides, and menu standards.
• Ensure Faregrounds concepts deliver distinctive, fast, high-quality guest experiences and support cross-utilization.
• Collaborate on menu engineering, promotions, tastings, events, and programming to boost traffic and loyalty.
• Champion guest feedback and continuous improvement in food quality, timing, and value.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Chef leadership roles

Smoke-forward cooking

Multi-outlet experience

Food cost & P&L

Team development

Opening experience

ServSafe

Education

Culinary Arts degree

Job description

The Nest at Calesa in Ocala seeks an Opening Chef de Cuisine to lead culinary operations across Cow Bird Kitchen, Faregrounds concepts, catering, and special events. You will shape kitchen culture, set standards, and drive guest experiences with a hands-on, safety-minded leadership style.

You will build a high-performing team, manage food cost, and partner with events to deliver premium service in a dynamic, outdoor setting. Experience in opening concepts is highly valued.