Executive Chef

Padre Hotel; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Padre Hotel seeks an Executive Chef to lead all back-of-house culinary operations, uphold food quality and sanitation, and collaborate across departments in a fast-paced hospitality setting.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong organizational skills, and a track record of managing high-volume kitchens in a hotel environment. Competitive wages, growth opportunities, and a dynamic team await.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Minimum 5+ years of combined education and/or high-volume kitchen-related work in a management role.
• Flexible availability including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Lead BOH culinary staff including Chefs and Line Cooks, providing coaching and development.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, sanitation, and adherence to hotel standards.
• Ensure food quality, proper portioning, garnishing, and consistent execution across outlets.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, vendor coordination, and cost control.

Skills

BOH Leadership

Staff Coaching

Sanitation Standards

Operational Planning

Food Quality Oversight

Team Collaboration

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

5+ years in high-volume kitchen management

Tools

ServSafe

Job description

Executive Chef - Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Executive Chef is responsible for leading all back-of-house culinary operations while upholding The Padre Hotel's standards for food quality, sanitation, efficiency, and guest experience. This role requires hands-on leadership, strong organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate across departments in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Range of Salary: $80,000 - $95,000

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, supervise, and support all BOH culinary staff, including Chefs, Line Cooks, and Prep Cooks.
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, performance feedback, and professional development for BOH team members.
• Evaluate employee productivity and efficiency; administer corrective action and disciplinary notices in collaboration with management.
• Make recommendations regarding hiring, promotions, and terminations for BOH staff, subject to management approval.
• Organize daily staffing, prep schedules, and service execution to meet operational demands.

Kitchen Operations & Standards

• Oversee daily opening and closing procedures for all kitchens (upstairs and downstairs), ensuring readiness for service and proper shutdown.
• Ensure all stations, walk-ins, freezers, dry storage areas, and dish stations are clean, organized, sanitized, and maintained to hotel standards.
• Conduct daily inspections of all kitchen and storage areas to ensure compliance with cleanliness, organization, and safety expectations.
• Uphold and enforce ServSafe standards and all local health department regulations.

Food Quality & Execution

• Ensure all food is prepared, seasoned, portioned, garnished, and presented according to approved recipes and company standards.
• Observe, taste, and test food for quality, consistency, and proper cooking temperatures.
• Verify that portions, plating, and garnishes meet expectations before food is served to guests.
• Ensure menus and recipes are executed consistently and accurately across all outlets and events.

Inventory, Ordering & Cost Control

• Assist Chefs with daily product ordering and vendor coordination.
• Oversee bi-weekly and monthly inventories, including final review prior to submission to the GM/VPO.
• Review invoices for pricing accuracy and fluctuations; update inventory documentation accordingly.
• Maintain and manage par levels, requisitions, and waste logs in accordance with management standards.
• Receive, inspect, and verify kitchen deliveries for quality and accuracy.

Banquets, Events & Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Sales Team and Banquet Department to ensure successful execution of all events.
• Assist in organizing, preparing, and executing banquet food orders and special event menus.
• Support seamless communication between culinary teams and hotel departments to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

Administrative & Compliance Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate time clock practices, including timely clock-ins/outs, required meal breaks, and submission of correction or early leave forms with proper documentation and approvals.
• Remain flexible with scheduling, including nights, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts as dictated by business needs.
• Be available and willing to assist in all areas of the restaurant and hotel as operationally required.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by management or upper leadership.

Standards & Culture

• Uphold and promote The Padre Hotel's standards for food quality, cleanliness, teamwork, and professionalism.
• Lead by example with a hands-on, solution-oriented approach in a high-volume hospitality environment.

SUPPORTIVE FUNCTIONS

In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by management based upon the particular requirements of the company.

EDUCATION

High School graduate or equivalent required.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum 5 + years of combined education and / or high-volume kitchen-related work in management role.

Flexible availability is required for this position (days, evenings, weekends, holidays)

Bakersfield's best hotel, Padre Hotel, first opened its doors in 1928 and today is Bakersfield's only 4-Diamond Hotel. After being closed for several years, the historic hotel underwent a transformation to become a sophisticated boutique hotel with restaurants, nightlife, wedding venues and conference facilities. After a long day out in the oil fields, working on the farm, or just exploring Bakersfield, come unwind in our luxurious guest rooms, host your private event, or enjoy one of Padre Hotel Bakersfield's five unique dining options.

This venue is operated by Eat.Drink.Sleep. In return, we offer competitive wages and caring, attentive management personnel. Employees are eligible for generous discounts at all venues operated by Eat.Drink.Sleep.

The Padre Hotel provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Padre Hotel complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.