Lead Culinary Instructor & Team Leader

CSC Generation; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Sur La Table is seeking a Resident Chef to lead high-performing culinary teams, teach engaging cooking classes, and drive store sales through exemplary customer experiences. You will mentor staff, oversee in-store culinary programs, and ensure compliance with food safety standards while maintaining brand integrity.

The role demands culinary expertise, strong teaching and leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple classes per week in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employment.
• Culinary degree strongly preferred. We will only consider equivalent experience in exceptional cases.
• 1-2 years’ experience as a culinary instructor.
• 3-4 years of progressively responsible kitchen management experience.
• Valid Food Manager Certification.
• Proven track record of achieving sales and motivating high performing sales teams while meeting operational goals.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, mentor and retain a high-performing team to meet the business needs of both culinary and retail.
• Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations and uphold a positive team culture.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide feedback, and create development plans to support individual and team growth.
• Represent Sur La Table’s brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
• Ensure an outstanding cooking class experience in every session by following provided recipes and game plans while holding employees accountable for quality and execution.
• Work with store leadership to increase foot traffic and store engagement through cooking classes and private events.
• Maintains expertise by staying current on products, actively engaging in available training, and independently seeking out additional resources.
• Ensure exceptional customer experience by leading a customer-focused, Guest Obsessed culture in both the kitchen and retail sales floor.
• Oversees, addresses, and takes responsibility for all customer feedback related to the culinary program to maintain satisfaction and loyalty.
• Drive sales growth by developing and implementing strategies to enhance the culinary and retail business.
• Analyze key performance metrics daily and leverage insights to optimize store performance.
• Consistently meet or exceed culinary and retail goals by delivering exceptional classes and customer experiences that drive engagement and sales.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary instruction

Team development

Sales & retail

Microsoft Office

Education

Culinary degree

Food Manager Certification

Tools

POS systems

Retail systems

Kitchen equipment

Job description

Sur La Table is seeking a Resident Chef to lead high-performing culinary teams, teach engaging cooking classes, and drive store sales through exemplary customer experiences. You will mentor staff, oversee in-store culinary programs, and ensure compliance with food safety standards while maintaining brand integrity.

The role demands culinary expertise, strong teaching and leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple classes per week in a fast-paced retail environment.