Executive Chef: NYC Launch & Culinary Program Lead

Mattos Hospitality; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Robust Paid Time Off Policy

Performance-Based Incentive Plan

Paid Parental Leave

Commuter Benefits

Discounted Gym Membership

Dining Discounts across Mattos Hospit

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Mattos Hospitality in New York City seeks an Executive Chef to lead the culinary program from pre-opening through launch and ongoing operations.

You will collaborate on menu direction, sourcing, and the overall food experience, while building a strong kitchen team and establishing systems and standards for opening.

This hands-on leadership role requires a clear point of view, sound judgment, and a commitment to quality, safety, and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as an Executive Chef or senior culinary leader within high-quality, full-service restaurants.
• Experience opening a restaurant or developing a culinary program from its early stages strongly preferred.
• Strong culinary instincts with a focus on consistency, execution, and operational needs.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing culinary teams.
• Strong command of food and labor costs, purchasing, inventory, budgeting, and kitchen financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the culinary program from pre-opening through launch and ongoing operations.
• Collaborate with leadership on menu development, culinary direction, sourcing, and the overall food experience.
• Build the BOH organizational structure and recruit, hire, train, and develop opening team.
• Lead menu development, tastings, recipe documentation, costing, and ongoing refinement.
• Establish kitchen systems, SOPs, production standards, training tools, and quality controls.
• Develop relationships with vendors, purveyors, and suppliers for quality and consistency.
• Own food cost, culinary labor, purchasing, inventory, waste, and other key metrics.
• Partner with finance on budgets, forecasting, and P&L performance.
• Maintain high standards of organization, cleanliness, food safety, sanitation, and DOH compliance.
• Develop culinary leaders through coaching, accountability, and training.
• Foster a kitchen culture centered on professionalism, collaboration, curiosity, and respect.
• Collaborate with FOH leadership for a cohesive experience across culinary and service.
• Remain actively engaged in service and evolve the program post-opening.

Skills

Executive Chef

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Operations management

Food cost management

Job description

Mattos Hospitality in New York City seeks an Executive Chef to lead the culinary program from pre-opening through launch and ongoing operations.

You will collaborate on menu direction, sourcing, and the overall food experience, while building a strong kitchen team and establishing systems and standards for opening.

This hands-on leadership role requires a clear point of view, sound judgment, and a commitment to quality, safety, and guest satisfaction.