Executive Chef

Goodwin Recruiting; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunity

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Leadership training

Internal promotion culture

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting is seeking an Executive Chef for a growing restaurant group known for scratch cooking and high-volume full-service dining in North Carolina. The role leads BOH operations, supervises Sous Chefs and Kitchen Managers, and drives food quality, cost control, and staff development.

The position offers 85,000–90,000 base salary with an approximately 10,000 annual bonus, medical benefits, paid time off, and structured leadership training as you help open new concepts and promote

Qualifications

• 3+ years of Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or comparable culinary leadership experience.
• Candidates must be willing to train in Charlotte, NC for 8-10 weeks.
• Current or recent upscale casual, polished casual, steakhouse, or high-volume full-service restaurant experience.
• Strong scratch-kitchen background.
• Stable work history with demonstrated progression and increasing responsibility.
• Proven experience managing food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and scheduling.
• Strong track record of training, developing, and retaining culinary employees.
• Comfortable leading a sizable BOH team and remaining hands-on during service.
• Professional, organized, and comfortable operating within established systems and recipes.

Responsibilities

• Lead all BOH operations for a high-volume scratch kitchen.
• Manage and develop Sous Chefs, Kitchen Managers, and hourly culinary employees.
• Maintain strong food quality, consistency, sanitation, and safety standards.
• Control food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and waste.
• Lead hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management.
• Remain actively involved in service and kitchen execution.
• Partner closely with the General Manager and restaurant leadership team.
• Build a positive, accountable, high-performing culinary culture.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Training & development

Cost control

Food safety

BOH leadership

Job description

Executive Chef

$85,000–$90,000 Base Salary + Bonus

We are seeking an experienced Executive Chef with a strong background in upscale or polished casual, high-volume full-service dining.

This opportunity is with a growing restaurant group known for scratch cooking, operational discipline, strong hospitality, and developing leaders from within. We are looking for a chef who can lead people, manage the business, and consistently execute established culinary standards.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or comparable culinary leadership experience
• Candidates must be willing to train in Charlotte, NC for 8-10 weeks.
• Current or recent upscale casual, polished casual, steakhouse, or high-volume full-service restaurant experience
• Strong scratch-kitchen background
• Stable work history with demonstrated progression and increasing responsibility
• Proven experience managing food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and scheduling
• Strong track record of training, developing, and retaining culinary employees
• Comfortable leading a sizable BOH team and remaining hands-on during service
• Professional, organized, and comfortable operating within established systems and recipes

Candidates primarily from hotels, resorts, banquet operations, institutional dining, corporate dining, healthcare, or senior living will generally not align with this opportunity unless they also have strong, recent full-service restaurant experience.

The Role

• Lead all BOH operations for a high-volume scratch kitchen
• Manage and develop Sous Chefs, Kitchen Managers, and hourly culinary employees
• Maintain strong food quality, consistency, sanitation, and safety standards
• Control food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and waste
• Lead hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management
• Remain actively involved in service and kitchen execution
• Partner closely with the General Manager and restaurant leadership team
• Build a positive, accountable, high-performing culinary culture

Compensation & Growth

• $85,000–$90,000 base salary
• Approximately $10,000 annual bonus opportunity
• Medical benefits
• Paid time off
• Structured leadership training
• Strong internal promotion culture
• Advancement opportunities as the company continues opening new restaurants

The company opens approximately 4–5 restaurants each year and fills a significant portion of leadership positions through internal promotion.

If you have a strong track record leading high-volume scratch kitchens and are looking for a company where operational excellence, people development, and long-term growth matter, we’d like to speak with you.

JOB ID: 181800#post