Executive Chef - Cambridge

Row34; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly bonuses

Paid vacation

Medical Insurance (Cigna)

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Sick time

401K with company match

Parking

Employee dining policy

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Row 34 Cambridge is seeking an Executive Chef to lead the back of house team in a hands-on, growth-focused role. You’ll work closely with the General Manager to drive operations, maintain high food quality, and elevate guest experiences daily.

The role requires proven kitchen leadership, strong food-cost controls, and a track record of coaching culinary teams while building a culture of hospitality and learning across the restaurant group.

Qualifications

• Proven experience running a kitchen and daily execution with big-picture operations.
• Strong grasp of food cost, inventory management, and ordering to drive smart decisions.
• Track record of managing, coaching, and developing culinary teams.
• Collaborates with General Manager and culinary leaders to keep standards high.

Responsibilities

• Lead the back of house team in a hands-on leadership role.
• Develop hourly and management staff while driving restaurant operations.
• Ensure kitchen performance from food quality to guest experience.
• Partner with ownership on long-term vision and goals for the kitchen.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Food cost control

Inventory management

Team coaching

Operations leadership

Hospitality mindset

Job description

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Row 34 is an award-winning, high-energy neighborhood oyster bar with locations in the Seaport and Kenmore Square neighborhoods of Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA; Burlington, MA; and Portsmouth, NH. We're known for our extensive oyster program, a menu built around the freshest seafood, and a people-first culture rooted in teamwork, growth, and hospitality.

Row 34 Cambridge is looking for an Executive Chef to lead the back of house team. This is a hands-on leadership role — you'll invest in developing our hourly and management staff while driving the overall operations of the restaurant. Working closely with the General Manager, you'll ensure the kitchen performs at the highest level every day, from food quality to guest experience.

Our menus change daily, spotlighting local and seasonal New England seafood sourced directly from farmers and fishermen we work with closely. In house, we handle our own smoking and curing, run a ceviche and crudo program, and put a creative spin on both seafood dishes and New England classics.

Qualifications:

Proven experience running a kitchen, from daily execution to big-picture operations.

Strong grasp of food cost, inventory management, and ordering — you know your numbers and use them to drive smart decisions.

A track record of managing, coaching, and developing culinary teams; you build people up, not just menus.

Comfortable working hand-in-hand with the General Manager and other culinary leaders across our restaurant group to keep standards high and operations running smoothly.

Partner with ownership on long-term vision and goals, proactively communicating insights and needs from the kitchen.

Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to juggle the demands of a fast-paced kitchen without losing sight of the details.

A kind, people-first leader — someone who brings out the best in their team through respect and genuine investment in their growth.

Professional, hospitality-minded, and always excited to teach and keep learning.

Salary is competitive ($100K+), plus an industry-leading comprehensive benefits package including:

Quarterly Bonuses throughout the year - based on performance metrics

2 Weeks Paid Vacation - Annually (increases to 3 weeks at year 3, 4 weeks at year 7)

Medical Insurance, (Cigna)- offered at 90 days of employment

Dental, Vision, Accident, Disability Insurance - offered at 90 days of employment

40 Hours Annually Paid Available Sick Time - Accrued

401K Program with Company Matching up to 4% - offered at 6 months of employment

Parking Included

Employee Dining Policy

Opportunities for work related travel to promote the restaurant and the brand