Culinary Chef & Head Pitmaster — BBQ Innovator

Sonny's BBQ; Winter Park (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonny's BBQ is seeking a Culinary Chef & Head Pitmaster to lead the culinary vision and drive menu innovation for a beloved regional brand. You will set national standards, train pitmasters, and collaborate with Operations, Marketing, and Training to ensure top-tier quality.

With 8+ years of culinary leadership and deep BBQ expertise, you will shape the future of Sonny's while representing the brand at events and media appearances.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of culinary experience with leadership or corporate chef exposure.
• Demonstrated expertise in barbecue, smoking techniques, and pitmaster craftsmanship.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, food costing, menu development, and product execution.
• Exceptional creativity paired with operational discipline.
• Comfortable presenting and representing a brand.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, testing, and refinement of new menu items and limited-time offerings.
• Identify emerging BBQ trends, techniques, and flavors to keep Sonny's relevant.
• Oversee culinary testing, recipe development, food safety standards, and operational documentation.
• Develop scalable processes that ensure exceptional food quality across the system.
• Establish and uphold the national standard for BBQ excellence as Head Pitmaster.
• Develop pitmaster training and certification programs.
• Represent Sonny's BBQ at media appearances, culinary events, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with Operations, Marketing, and Training to bring culinary ideas to life.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Barbecue & pitmaster

Menu development

Food safety

Public speaking

Training & mentoring

Brand storytelling

Education

Culinary degree

Equivalent experience welcomed

Job description

Sonny's BBQ is seeking a Culinary Chef & Head Pitmaster to lead the culinary vision and drive menu innovation for a beloved regional brand. You will set national standards, train pitmasters, and collaborate with Operations, Marketing, and Training to ensure top-tier quality.

With 8+ years of culinary leadership and deep BBQ expertise, you will shape the future of Sonny's while representing the brand at events and media appearances.