Executive Chef

Hawkers, LLC; Sarasota, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

401K

Bonus program

Paid time off

Dining discounts

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Hawkers Asian Street Food in Sarasota, FL is seeking an Executive Chef to lead the kitchen, develop a high-performing team, and drive culinary excellence for a brand-new Hawkers restaurant.

The role is full-time, exempt, with a competitive salary, benefits, 401K, and bonus program. You will oversee all back-of-house operations, food cost, sanitation, and staff development while partnering with leadership to ensure outstanding guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Five years of Executive Chef experience in a full-service upscale restaurant.
• Leadership of kitchen teams with focus on coaching and development.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all Back of House operations and culinary execution.
• Develop and mentor Sous Chefs and culinary team.
• Manage food cost, labor cost, sanitation and equipment maintenance.
• Drive guest experience from a food perspective and uphold standards.
• Lead opening of a brand-new Hawkers restaurant and build the kitchen culture.

Skills

Executive Chef

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Cost control

Food safety

Staff training

English proficiency

Job description

Description

Now Opening in Sarasota, FL | Executive Chef

Be Part of Something New. Build Something Extraordinary.

Who We Are

At Hawkers Asian Street Food, our purpose is simple: we spark adventure. Everything we do is driven by three mantras that define who we are and how we show up every day. We always care — for each and every guest as if they are our only guest, and for our team as family. We never compromise — paying attention to the details and maximizing the potential in every team member and every experience. And we be disruptive — challenging the status quo, refusing to succumb to industry norms, and continually raising the bar.

If you’re ready to bring that spirit to work every single day, we want you on our team.

Being a Hawkers Chef is about so much more than receiving amazing benefits, working in a fun vibe, and eating delicious food. While we offer all those things and more, being a Hawkers Chef is about working on a team of motivated people who wake up every day ready to spark adventure and connect with others through our cuisine. We are looking for leaders to help us grow our brand and lead the way in coaching and developing our restaurant and kitchen team.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: FIVE years of EXECUTIVE CHEF (exempt) kitchen/culinary management experience at a FULL-SERVICE, UPSCALE restaurant concept.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Lead the opening of a brand-new Hawkers restaurant in Sarasota
• Build and develop your leadership team from the ground up
• Join a fast-growing, award-winning restaurant brand
• Make a direct impact on culture, guest experience, and business performance
• Grow your career with a company that invests heavily in leadership development and internal promotion
• Help shape the future of Hawkers as we continue to expand

What’s in it for you?

• Highly Competitive Salary + Benefits +401K
• Achievable Quarterly Bonus Program
• Paid Time Off
• Exclusive Dining Discounts
• Unlimited Growth & Career Advancement Opportunities
• Fun & Engaging Work Environment

The Executive Chef is the senior culinary leader at the restaurant level, responsible for overseeing all Back of House operations, culinary execution, team development, and financial performance. This role owns the guest experience from a food perspective and is directly accountable for food cost, labor cost, kitchen sanitation, equipment maintenance, and the development of the Sous Chef and culinary team.

The Executive Chef works in close partnership with the General Manager and Regional Chef to drive sales, profitability, and operational excellence. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. Open availability is required, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

• Maintains food quality standards for the restaurant. Oversees all phases of food procurement, production, and service, including, inventory and ordering, storage and rotation, food preparation, recipe adherence, plate presentation, and service and production time standards.
• Ensures that clear feedback is provided to the entire kitchen team, including staff and leadership.
• Provides immediate feedback to staff on food quality, execution, and presentation as items are produced and serves as a last line of defense against substandard quality items.
• Strictly follows and adheres to recipes and procedures per Jolt.
• Ensures that target ticket times are consistently achieved while maintaining food quality standards.
• Responsible for maintaining all kitchen equipment and storage areas in a clean, “like new” condition.
• Conducts monthly housekeeping, food safety, sanitation, and facility reviews personally to improve restaurant standards of the kitchen team and to correct deficiencies on a timely basis.
• Ensures the cleanliness of the kitchen, passes Health Department audits and training staff on proper sanitation guidelines.
• Completes Culinary line checks, and sanitation checks daily.
• Train, develop, and motivate team members and leaders to meet or exceed established standards.
• Training and following the training guide program and team members to have a passing score to be in position.
• Communicate with leaders, hourly team members, and guests, providing positive feedback and promoting a positive image of the restaurant and good team member morale.
• Ensures adherence to food safety, sanitation, and storage practices, through proper training and supervision.
• To directly assist the General Manager in meeting or exceeding established sales, revenue, and profitability.
• Maintain safe working conditions as required by OSHA and federal, state, and local governing bodies.
• Ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of all positions at the restaurant is proficient in performing such duties, and through instruction and supervision, trains and develops both leaders and hourly team members.
• Regularly counsels, and coaches team members, and evaluates staff with formal evaluations.
• Executes effectively and trains other leaders as applicable to use the Daily Shift Card.
• Takes quick and responsible action in solving problems and is able to use reason when dealing with disciplinary issues.
• Must have or be willing to obtain Food Handlers Certification following OSHA and HACCP compliance standards.
• 1-2 years’ experience in a like or similar position.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to read and write in English in order to process paperwork and follow up on any actions necessary.
• Manual dexterity needed for keyboarding and other repetitive tasks.
• Must be able to frequently stand, walk, bend, squat, and reach above shoulder level.
• Must be comfortable working in an environment with exposure to extreme cold/hot temperatures.
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 lbs.