Executive Chef: Italian Kitchen & Team Leadership

Il Fornaio; Del Mar (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Benefits package

Paid vacation

Education assistance

Dining discounts

Job summary

Il Fornaio is seeking an experienced Chef to lead the kitchen, uphold culinary standards, and drive operational discipline in Del Mar, CA. You will own culinary and operational performance, develop a high-performing team, manage labor and food costs, and collaborate with leadership to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

The role emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and continuous improvement while maintaining brand standards and Northern Italian cuisine expertise.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of kitchen management experience.
• Knowledge of Northern Italian cuisine preferred.
• Bi-lingual Spanish preferred.
• Strong culinary judgment and food safety knowledge.
• Mentorship and team development skills.
• Proficiency with BOH systems and costing programs.
• Culinary Arts degree or certifications a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the culinary and operational performance of the kitchen and partner with leadership.
• Lead the food program, develop the team, manage numbers, and uphold standards daily.
• Ensure consistency in recipes, quality, presentation, safety, and sanitation.
• Train, coach, and develop kitchen managers and hourly team members.
• Manage labor, food cost, inventory, purchasing, waste, and productivity with ownership.
• Drive continuous improvement without compromising culinary quality.
• Collaborate with restaurant leadership to deliver a seamless guest experience.

Skills

Kitchen management

Culinary judgment

Staff coaching

Labor management

Education

Culinary Arts degree or certifications

Tools

Inventory systems

Recipe management

Costing programs

Job description

Il Fornaio is seeking an experienced Chef to lead the kitchen, uphold culinary standards, and drive operational discipline in Del Mar, CA. You will own culinary and operational performance, develop a high-performing team, manage labor and food costs, and collaborate with leadership to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

The role emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and continuous improvement while maintaining brand standards and Northern Italian cuisine expertise.