Ground‑Floor Executive Chef — Build & Lead Mediterranean Rooftop

Maya Hospitality Group Inc; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

PTO

Health and wellness benefits

Dining perks

Job summary

Dear Charlotte is opening a new Mediterranean-inspired rooftop restaurant in Charlotte, NC, seeking an Executive Chef to lead the kitchen from day one. You will own culinary direction, staffing, and systems, enabling a creative, high-energy dining program.

You will shape menus, manage food cost and labor, recruit and coach a BOH team, and partner with FOH leadership to ensure seamless service across dinner, brunch, and events. This is a ground-floor opportunity with strong growth potential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or senior kitchen leadership experience.
• Experience leading high-volume restaurant operations.
• Prior new restaurant opening experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build and lead a kitchen team from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor, inventory, and kitchen P&L.
• Experience in elevated casual, upscale, or high-energy dining environments.
• Strong leadership presence and communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm and solutions-focused during high-pressure service.
• Passion for Mediterranean, globally inspired, or elevated cuisine.
• Strong creative and operational mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead all culinary operations and execution for the restaurant.
• Develop and execute a Mediterranean-inspired menu designed for high-volume rooftop service.
• Build the BOH team through recruiting, hiring, training, coaching, and development.
• Establish kitchen standards, recipes, SOPs, prep systems, and service procedures.
• Own food cost, inventory, ordering, receiving, waste, and vendor relationships.
• Maintain consistency, speed, quality, and presentation across dinner, brunch, and events.
• Partner closely with FOH and bar leadership on menu alignment and execution.
• Manage kitchen labor and scheduling to support profitability and service.
• Drive operational efficiency while maintaining culinary creativity and quality.
• Create a positive, accountable, and high-performing kitchen culture.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety and sanitation requirements.

Skills

Executive Chef leadership

High-volume operations

New restaurant openings

Team building

Food cost & P&L

Leadership & communication

Calm under pressure

Mediterranean cuisine passion

Creative & operational mindset

Job description

Dear Charlotte is opening a new Mediterranean-inspired rooftop restaurant in Charlotte, NC, seeking an Executive Chef to lead the kitchen from day one. You will own culinary direction, staffing, and systems, enabling a creative, high-energy dining program.

You will shape menus, manage food cost and labor, recruit and coach a BOH team, and partner with FOH leadership to ensure seamless service across dinner, brunch, and events. This is a ground-floor opportunity with strong growth potential.