Executive Chef

Driftwood Hospitality Management; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Hilton's employee rate discounts world

Employee food & beverage discounts

Job summary

Driftwood Hospitality Management seeks an Executive Chef for The Radical in Asheville. You’ll lead hands-on kitchen operations across Golden Hour rooftop bar and private events, shaping the culinary identity with a Michelin-starred colleague and seasonal, local ingredients.

You’ll build and mentor a kitchen team, own food quality, costs, and safety, and partner with local farmers to source produce. This boutique program offers creative ownership and room to grow within a nationwide hospitality

Qualifications

• Local chef or rising culinary leader ready for next step.
• Hands-on in the kitchen, leads by cooking with team.
• Passion for local sourcing and seasonal menus.
• Experience leading or building a kitchen team preferred.
• Comfortable with rooftop bar, private events, and daily operations.
• Collaborative mindset and curiosity about Asheville food culture.

Responsibilities

• Set culinary direction for Golden Hour, rooftop bar, and private events.
• Develop seasonal, locally-sourced menus reflecting Asheville culture.
• Collaborate with Michelin-starred chef on menu development and standards.
• Recruit, train, and build a strong kitchen team.
• Own kitchen operations end-to-end: quality, food cost, and safety.
• Partner with local farmers and producers to source ingredients.
• Bring energy to private events and special experiences.
• Collaborate with Driftwood's F&B network on new concepts.

Skills

Local chef

Hands-on leadership

Seasonal menus

Local sourcing

Collaborative mindset

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Radical isn't a hotel restaurant in the usual sense, it's a creative kitchen with a rooftop view, a strong sense of place, and a menu that changes with the seasons and the farmers who grow for it. We're looking for an Executive Chef to take the helm: a hands-on cook who's genuinely excited about local and seasonal ingredients, comfortable leading a team, and ready to put a real stamp on one of Asheville's most distinctive dining destinations.

You’ll oversee culinary direction across Golden Hour, our rooftop bar, and private events, working alongside a Michelin-starred chef to develop menus, build a strong kitchen team, and shape the food and beverage identity of the property from the ground up.

What You’ll Do

• Set the culinary direction and creative vision for Golden Hour, the rooftop bar, and private events
• Develop seasonal, locally-sourced menus that reflect Asheville’s food culture and The Radical’s creative identity
• Collaborate directly with a Michelin-starred chef on menu development and culinary standards
• Recruit, train, and build a strong, motivated kitchen team from the ground up
• Own kitchen operations end-to-end quality, consistency, food cost, and safety standards
• Partner with local farmers, purveyors, and producers to source seasonal ingredients
• Bring energy and craft to private events and special culinary experiences on property
• Collaborate with Driftwood Hospitality's broader F&B network on new concepts and hotel openings when opportunities arise

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• A talented local chef or an up-and-coming culinary leader ready for their next step
• Hands-on in the kitchen, you lead by cooking alongside your team, not just from behind a desk
• Genuine passion for great food, local sourcing, and seasonal menu development
• Experience leading or building a kitchen team preferred, but drive and talent matter more than years on paper
• Comfortable wearing multiple hats, rooftop bar, private events, and day-to-day restaurant operations
• A collaborative mindset
• Asheville food culture is a plus, but curiosity and ambition count just as much as local roots

WHY JOIN THE RADICAL

• Creative ownership of a distinctive, boutique dining program, not a cookie-cutter hotel kitchen
• Direct mentorship and collaboration with a Michelin-starred chef
• Backed by Driftwood Hospitality Management, 80+ hotels across 20 states, with a growing portfolio of restaurant and bar concepts
• Real career runway: support for new concepts, hotel openings, and growth beyond one kitchen
• A community-rooted, culture-forward team that values personality and craft over corporate polish
• Asheville's River Arts District as your backdrop, creative energy, local makers, and a food scene that rewards ambition

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Hilton's employee rate discounts worldwide
• Employee food & beverage discounts

EEO: Driftwood Hospitality Management is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.