Executive Chef

Hotel-Bardo-Savannah; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Wellness program

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Complimentary daily team member meal

Job summary

Hotel Bardo Savannah, crowned Travel + Leisure’s #1 Hotel in Savannah, seeks an Executive Chef to lead the culinary program with creativity and operational discipline. This senior role shapes menus, mentors the kitchen team, and drives exceptional guest dining experiences across outlets and events.

As the hotel’s culinary face, you’ll partner with leadership on seasonal programming, cost control, and client partnerships, balancing artistry with financial performance while maintaining the highest

Qualifications

• Significant culinary leadership in luxury hospitality
• Executive Chef or senior culinary leadership experience
• Strong menu development and high-volume execution
• Executive presence and credible communication with senior leaders
• Experience overseeing multiple outlets and events preferred
• Ability to develop culinary teams with accountability and improvement
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor, purchasing, inventory
• Hands-on leadership in kitchen operations and service
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operation across outlets and events with quality and consistency
• Represent the culinary program to hotel leadership, clients, partners, and guests
• Provide hands-on leadership and build a culture of accountability and craftsmanship
• Collaborate on menus, seasonal programming, events, and culinary experiences
• Develop Sous Chefs and culinary leaders; establish clear expectations
• Maintain visible presence; monitor preparation, plating, taste, temperature, and service
• Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, labor, scheduling and productivity
• Establish recipes, specifications, kitchen systems and standards
• Partner with Banquets and Events to execute weddings and meetings
• Recruit, train and retain high-performing culinary talent
• Ensure kitchens meet health, sanitation and safety requirements

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Operational excellence

Job description

Named the #1 Hotel in Savannah by Travel + Leisure in 2026, Hotel Bardo Savannah is more than a hotel. It’s a neighborhood clubhouse, a gathering place and a world of its own—where exceptional hospitality feels personal, thoughtful and always a little unexpected.

Set beside Forsyth Park in the heart of Savannah, Bardo brings together 149 guest rooms and suites, Saint Bibiana, Bar Bibi, The Green Room, Saltgrass Spa , The Cooking School and spaces designed for everything from quiet mornings to unforgettable celebrations.

Our most recent recognition from Travel + Leisure joins a growing list of honors, including Bardo’s distinction as a Condé Nast Traveler Triple Crown recipient, recognized across the Hot List, Gold List and Readers’ Choice Awards. But the recognition belongs to the people behind the experience—a team that believes the smallest details can make the biggest impression.

At Bardo, hospitality is generous, intuitive and full of personality. Whether you’re welcoming a guest, setting the table, creating a restorative spa experience or making everything happen behind the scenes, you play a part in creating the kind of place people never quite want to leave.

LEFT LANEHospitality Group, LLC is a vertically integrated real estate design, development and management firm specializing in the acquisition and transformation of iconic, historic properties. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, dynamic, and inspiring workplace and company culture where our team members are inspired to create lasting impressions through warm, anticipatory service. How we want our guests to feel when staying with us is the same as…how we want our team to feel every day.

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.