Executive Chef — Lead Fresh, Natural Dishes & Team Growth

Salted Melon; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts

Job summary

Salted Melon is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead our culinary team and deliver a fresh, health-forward menu with consistent quality and guest satisfaction.

The role focuses on building a cohesive team culture, operational excellence, and continuous kitchen improvement in a fast-paced environment. Expect 50 hours per week, with opportunities for growth and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• 3 years of kitchen management experience preferred.
• Experience hiring, training, and supervising kitchen staff.
• ServeSafe or Food Handler's certification (or willingness to attain).
• Willing to work days, nights, holidays, and weekends.
• Ability to lift 25+ lbs.
• Strong leadership and communication skills; ability to collaborate with management.
• Results-oriented, customer-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the culinary team to perform at their best.
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop kitchen staff.
• Foster a positive, accountable, and team-oriented culture.
• Conduct regular meetings and ongoing training to support growth and alignment.
• Oversee all daily kitchen operations to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Execute recipes and procedures to brand standards.
• Maintain smooth service flow and complete duties within shifts.
• Meet or exceed food cost and labor budgets through proactive scheduling and cost control.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Team development

Staff coaching

Food safety

Problem solving

Customer focus

Tools

ServeSafe Certification

Job description

Salted Melon is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead our culinary team and deliver a fresh, health-forward menu with consistent quality and guest satisfaction.

The role focuses on building a cohesive team culture, operational excellence, and continuous kitchen improvement in a fast-paced environment. Expect 50 hours per week, with opportunities for growth and competitive compensation.