Lead Chef: Seasonal, Local, Lean Kitchen

Arena Hall; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plan

Performance incentive

Job summary

Arena Hall in Austin is seeking a hands-on Head Chef to lead a lean, intimate kitchen team for daily service and ambitious events. You will develop seasonal menus, build producer relationships and manage food costs while maintaining a high standard of quality.

The role blends private dining, meetings and events with member dining, requiring practical leadership and a passion for ingredient-led cooking in a vibrant club setting.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of professional kitchen experience leading a kitchen.
• Seasonal, produce-forward and ingredient-led cooking experience.
• Ability to develop menus and standardise recipes for a lean operation.
• Experience managing kitchen operations, budgeting, inventory and waste control.
• Current food safety certification (ServSafe) or equivalent.
• Experience opening or launching a kitchen operation is preferred.
• Experience across daily service, private dining and events.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal menus across all service formats (morning, all-day, lunch, dinner, brunch, private dining, meetings and events).
• Establish recipes, portions and presentation standards to ensure consistency across formats.
• Lead daily preparation, production, service and close-down, hands-on with the team.
• Coordinate kitchen workflows between different production areas.
• Oversee purchasing, cost reporting and inventory management.
• Recruit, train, supervise and evaluate the kitchen team; schedule staffing.
• Collaborate with F&B Director and front-of-house on covers and events.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation and health regulations.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Food cost management

Seasonal cooking

Lean kitchen operations

Team training & scheduling

Quality control

Education

ServSafe certification

Job description

Arena Hall in Austin is seeking a hands-on Head Chef to lead a lean, intimate kitchen team for daily service and ambitious events. You will develop seasonal menus, build producer relationships and manage food costs while maintaining a high standard of quality.

The role blends private dining, meetings and events with member dining, requiring practical leadership and a passion for ingredient-led cooking in a vibrant club setting.