Executive Chef & Kitchen Operations Leader

Joseph's Classic Market; Florida; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off & Personal Days

20% Employee Discount

Job summary

Joseph’s Classic Market in Florida is hiring an Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our Prepared Foods operation, ensuring quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction across hot bar, grab-and-go, catering, and seasonal menus. You’ll supervise culinary production, enforce food safety, manage inventory and costs, and coach cooks to deliver scratch-made meals with pride and precision.

This role offers growth from within, daily pre-shift huddles, and opportunities to shape menus and

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in culinary/kitchen environments (preferably in retail or catering)
• Culinary degree or food service certification preferred
• ServSafe or food safety certification or willingness to obtain
• Strong knowledge of food safety, kitchen operations, and recipe execution
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, stand for long hours, and work in hot/cold conditions
• Excellent communication, time management, and leadership skills
• Flexible availability including weekends, holidays, and evenings

Responsibilities

• Culinary Operations: Supervise daily production of all prepared foods including hot bar, grab-and-go, soups, salads, entrees, and catering
• Ensure all recipes are followed accurately and consistently, maintaining Joseph's quality standards
• Maintain proper portioning, ingredient prep, cooking times, and food presentation
• Schedule production to meet sales forecasts and peak traffic times
• Oversee special menus for holidays and events
• Food Safety & Sanitation: Enforce strict adherence to food safety regulations (e.g., ServSafe, HACCP, temperature logs)
• Maintain clean and organized prep areas, coolers, and storage areas
• Monitor and document hot/cold holding temperatures, cooling procedures, and shelf life
• Lead weekly deep-cleaning and sanitation schedules
• Prepare department for internal audits and health inspections
• Inventory & Cost Control: Order ingredients and supplies from approved vendors based on par levels and menu planning
• Maintain organized inventory systems for dry goods, fresh ingredients, and prepared items
• Track usage and minimize food waste through effective prep and repurposing plans
• Manage food cost targets and labor productivity
• Monitor catering supply inventory and coordinate with front-end teams
• Hire, train, and lead cooks, prep staff, and kitchen porters
• Provide ongoing coaching and feedback; conduct performance reviews
• Monitor department attendance and ensure associates adhere to scheduled shifts and company timekeeping policies, addressing any attendance or punctuality concerns promptly and consistently
• Follow up on performance or attendance issues with proper documentation and corrective action when necessary, including disciplinary action forms, notes to file, and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to support accountability and improvement within the department
• Lead daily pre-shift huddles with culinary team
• Foster a culture of accountability, pride, and teamwork
• Catering & Guest Service: Oversee production and packaging of catering orders (corporate, events, holidays)
• Ensure accuracy, presentation, and on-time readiness of all catered food
• Respond to last-minute catering changes or high-volume demands professionally
• Support customer service team with product knowledge and cross-department coordination
• Reporting & Communication: Submit weekly production, waste, and labor reports to Store Manager
• Participate in department head meetings and seasonal menu planning
• Communicate clearly with deli, bakery, meat, and grocery teams for product planning
• Develop prep guides, batch logs, and training materials for new team members

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Flexibility

Education

Culinary degree or food service certification

ServSafe certification

Job description

Joseph’s Classic Market in Florida is hiring an Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our Prepared Foods operation, ensuring quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction across hot bar, grab-and-go, catering, and seasonal menus. You’ll supervise culinary production, enforce food safety, manage inventory and costs, and coach cooks to deliver scratch-made meals with pride and precision.

This role offers growth from within, daily pre-shift huddles, and opportunities to shape menus and