Executive Chef

Driftwood Hospitality Management; Florida; On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Room Discounts

Employee Food and Beverage Discounts

Job summary

The Westin Cocoa Beach Resort & Spa, part of Driftwood Hospitality Management, seeks an opening Executive Chef to lead a multi-outlet culinary operation on Florida's Space Coast. You will build a world-class team, craft menus for beds, outlets and catering, and drive guest experiences with strong financial results.

Lead a creative team, optimize kitchen operations, and ensure consistent quality, hygiene, and cost controls across all outlets and banquets, while aligning with Driftwood’s strategic

Qualifications

• Experienced in high-volume catering with hotel top brands and fine dining.
• Proven leadership and managerial skills supporting growth and teamwork.
• Active in culinary trends and development.
• Creative with strong service and ability to energize a diverse team.
• Financial planning skills to analyze data and drive improvements.
• Supportive of corporate programs and standards.
• Comfort with television and media promotional venues.
• Computer literate and proficient with common software.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary team to execute at a high level and develop creative menus for outlets and catering.
• Mentor kitchen staff and oversee procurement, production, preparation, and presentation.
• Develop recipes, cost controls, plating specs and production schedules.
• Maintain food safety and hygiene standards and ensure sanitary operations.
• Monitor inventory, food cost controls, and promote profitable initiatives.
• Set staffing and productivity targets using labor management tools.
• Coordinate with departments and participate in kitchen and F&B meetings.

Skills

High-volume catering

Leadership

Culinary trends

Creativity

Financial planning

Corporate programs

Media promotion

Computer literacy

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Westin Cocoa Beach Resort & Spa is a 502-room oceanfront destination bringing an exciting new collection of dining experiences to Florida's Space Coast.

Our culinary collection: Terra Fina, an Italian-inspired chophouse; The Drift Coastal Kitchen & Bar, elevated Florida coastal dining; Moon City Diner, a retro Space Age diner; Locals Only, a tiki-style beach bar; The Wax Shack, a surf café and golf lounge; The Observatory, a sophisticated lobby bar; In-Room Dining; and Banquets & Catering, with nearly 50,000 sq ft of event space.

As our opening Executive Chef, you'll help drive its culinary identity, build a world-class team, and bring eight distinctive food and beverage experiences to life. From elevated coastal dining and a signature Italian restaurant to a Space Age diner and a vibrant tiki-style beach bar, you'll have the creative freedom and leadership opportunity to make your mark on a brand-new resort.

We're looking for a visionary, hands-on culinary leader who combines creativity with business savvy, develops exceptional talent, and knows how to turn great food into memorable guest experiences and strong financial results.

Don't just take over a kitchen. Build a culinary destination.

Join Driftwood Hospitality, an award-winning hotel management company with more than 80 hotels across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, ranked third in the J.D. Power 2026 North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark.

Driftwood Hospitality Management's company culture empowers our associates to take initiative, be proactive, and contribute to the success of their property with well-defined strategies and objectives. Driftwood Hospitality Management is renowned for our fully integrated approach to hospitality services - all with outstanding client service. Our team is made up of the best talent in the hospitality industry, down to every employee, position, and hotel.

Job Summary

Lead Culinary team to consistently execute at a high level, develop and implement creative menus for outlets and catering focusing on driving revenues, using local and seasonal inspired items when appropriate, create thoughtful presentations showcasing foods . Develop and mentor kitchen team, oversee all kitchen operations that include procurement, production, preparation and presentation, develop recipes and cost controls, plating specifications, line checks, production schedules, cleaning duties for the hotels in a safe and sanitary work environment which conforms to all standards and regulations and achieves profitable, competitive, quality products.

Essential Job Functions

This description is a summary of primary responsibilities and qualifications. The job description is not intended to include all duties or qualifications that may be required now or in the future. The Hotel operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so operational demands require variations in shift days, starting times, and hours worked in a week.

• Consistently offers professional, engaging and friendly service
• Oversee daily operations of the Kitchen department, including the following culinary areas: Banquets, Outlets, In Room Dining, Staff Cafeteria and Stewarding
• Responsible for the execution of the hotel's Strategic Plan as it relates to all culinary areas;
• Role models our service promises and ensures all reporting departments have a keen focus on delivery of our service essentials;
• Develop and prepare menus suitable to each of the aforementioned areas, balancing creativity and guest requests while ensuring leading edge presentation and food quality;
• Maintain food and beverage standards through the use of standardized food recipes and safe food handling practices;
• Optimize the profitability levels through consistent monitoring of inventory levels, food cost controls and the strategic and innovative promotional initiatives and regular assessment of the food product versus value perceived;
• Use Driftwood’s labor management tools to set and monitor staffing levels and productivity targets with the goal of ensuring a balance between service and profitability
• Prepare weekly schedules, ensuring productivity levels are maximized through the effective utilization of all colleagues and providing hands on support as required
• Responsible for maintaining staffing levels through proactive recruiting;
• Ensure that performance management and colleague training/development occurs in a timely and consistent manger;
• Active involvement in the development and implementation of kitchen & restaurant capital projects
• Participate in the weekly operational meetings, including the Banquet Event review;
• Ensure full compliance to Hotel operating controls and seek innovative ways to improve performance regularly;
• Oversee the menu creation of our staff restaurant to ensure the highest quality of product for our internal customers;
• Promote teamwork within the Kitchen department and maintain strong working relationships with all supporting departments;
• Participate in media and community opportunities to showcase food and beverage products and promote the hotel.
• Ensure all municipal and state laws regarding hygiene and security are respected, as well as ensuring that colleagues adhere to all health and safety requirements;
• Personally respond to food-related feedback and ensure proper processes and reports are produced
• Ensure that all kitchen equipment is in good working order and is properly maintained;
• Actively participates in the hotel's Department Head and Food & Beverage meetings, holds regular departmental communication meetings and supports participation of colleagues in the various hotel committees

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Experienced in high volume catering with hotel top brands and fine dining
• Proven leadership and managerial skills supporting an environment of colleague growth and development, interdepartmental teamwork and exceptional customer service;
• Current on all culinary trends and active in the furthering of his/her own culinary development
• Extremely creative with strong service skills and demonstrated ability to energize a diverse team of culinary professionals;
• Proven financial planning skills with the ability to analyze date and trends and implement strategies for improvement;
• Fully supportive of and cognizant of all Corporate programs;
• Experience and comfort with television and other media promotional venues;
• Computer literate;

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to stand, walk and/or sit and continuously perform essential job functions for an eight-plus hour shift.
• Frequent twisting, bending, stooping, reaching, standing, walking,
• Frequent talking, hearing, seeing and smiling.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Room Discounts
• Employee Food and 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.