Executive Chef

BARDO Hotels; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Complimentary daily team meal

Employee hotel discounts

Job summary

Hotel Bardo Savannah is seeking an Executive Chef to lead the culinary program across outlets and events. You will drive quality, presentation, and consistency while inspiring the kitchen team and balancing creativity with financial targets.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong communication with senior leaders, clients, and guests, and a proven track record in high-volume, luxury hospitality. This is a full-time, on-site position in Savannah.

Qualifications

• Significant culinary leadership in luxury or high-end hospitality.
• Experience as Executive Chef or comparable senior role.
• Strong menu development and cost control capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations across all hotel outlets and events.
• Represent the culinary program to leadership, clients and guests.
• Provide hands-on leadership and build a culture of accountability.
• Collaborate with F&B and hotel leadership on menus and events.
• Develop Sous Chefs and culinary leaders; maintain standards.
• Maintain kitchen systems, recipes, and safety compliance.
• Oversee food cost, labor, inventory, and purchasing.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food quality

Cost control

Operations management

Team coaching

High-volume service

Job description

About the role

We are seeking an Executive Chef for Hotel Bardo Savannah who brings strong culinary leadership, operational discipline, and a passion for creating memorable dining experiences.

As the senior culinary leader for the hotel, the Executive Chef is responsible for the quality, consistency, and performance of the culinary program across its outlets, events, and hotel experiences. This leader will inspire and develop the culinary team while balancing creativity with strong financial and operational results.

The Executive Chef also serves as the face of the hotel’s culinary program, representing the operation with senior leadership, clients, partners, and guests. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing menus, coaching chefs, reviewing food cost, leading from the kitchen during service, and speaking confidently about the culinary vision and experience.

What you’ll do

• Lead Hotel Bardo’s culinary operation, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, consistency, and execution across all outlets and events.
• Serve as the senior culinary representative to hotel leadership, clients, partners, and guests, communicating the vision and standards of the culinary program.
• Provide hands‑on leadership to the culinary team, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and pride in craftsmanship.
• Partner with Food & Beverage and hotel leadership on menus, seasonal programming, special events, and culinary experiences.
• Lead and develop Sous Chefs and culinary leaders, establishing clear expectations and building bench strength.
• Maintain a visible presence in the operation, regularly evaluating preparation, plating, taste, temperature, and service execution.
• Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, labor, scheduling, productivity, and other key financial measures.
• Establish and maintain recipes, specifications, kitchen systems, and operating standards that ensure consistency.
• Partner with Banquets and Events teams to execute weddings, meetings, social events, and special experiences.
• Recruit, train, coach, and retain high‑performing culinary talent.
• Ensure all kitchens meet company standards and local health, sanitation, food safety, and workplace safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Significant culinary leadership experience within luxury, lifestyle, resort, or high‑end full‑service hospitality.
• Previous experience as an Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or comparable senior culinary leader.
• Strong culinary foundation with demonstrated expertise in menu development, food quality, presentation, and high‑volume execution.
• Executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to represent the culinary operation credibly with senior leaders, clients, and guests.
• Experience overseeing multiple outlets and/or significant banquet and event operations strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to develop culinary teams while creating accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor management, purchasing, inventory, and kitchen financial performance.
• Hands‑on leadership style with the ability to remain actively engaged in kitchen operations and service.
• Thorough knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen safety standards.

Why Bardo?

Be part of something rare.

• Join the team behind Travel + Leisure’s #1 Hotel in Savannah.
• Work alongside curious, creative and passionate people who care deeply about their craft.
• Be empowered to create thoughtful, memorable moments for guests and for one another.

Take care of yourself.

• Medical, dental, vision and wellness benefits for eligible full‑time team members
• Company‑matched 401(k) with fast vesting
• Up to 20 days of paid time off, paid holidays and a paid birthday
• Complimentary daily team member meal

Experience Bardo.

• Complimentary two‑night stay at Hotel Bardo Savannah
• Team member discounts on dining, Saltgrass Spa treatments, retail and The Cooking School at Saint Bibiana
• Complimentary fitness classes
• Opportunities to experience the hotel as our guests do

Travel well.

• Employee rates at select Leading Hotels of the World properties
• Discounts at Highgate hotels worldwide

Grow with Left Lane.

• Referral incentives and guest recognition programs
• Career development opportunities across a growing hospitality portfolio
• Opportunities to learn, lead and build a career alongside an ambitious hospitality team

We believe remarkable hospitality begins with remarkable people. People who notice the details. Who take pride in making someone’s day. Who bring warmth, curiosity and character to what they do.

If that sounds like you, there may be a place for you at Bardo.

Come as you are. Create something rare.