Luxury Fine-Dining Chef - Lead Menu Innovation

The Post Oak; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

401K

Employee discounts

Advancement opportunities

Diversity valued workplace

Complimentary parking

Colleague meals

Job summary

The Post Oak Hotel in Houston is seeking a Restaurant Chef with Fine Dining Experience to lead our culinary team and uphold the standards of our Forbes Five-Star property.

You will oversee operations across meals and venues, develop menus, manage costs, maintain safety, and mentor sous chefs and cooks in a luxury dining environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a high-volume kitchen.
• Experience in luxury or Forbes hotel environments is preferred.
• Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays.
• Strong culinary expertise and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and leadership by example.
• Physical ability to lift 50 pounds and stand for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operation, ensuring food quality and guest satisfaction.
• Develop and innovate menus, plating guides, and concepts.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health compliance.
• Lead kitchen staffing, scheduling, and labor planning.
• Control food and labor costs and monitor budgets.
• Train and develop culinary team members.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, and par levels.
• Coordinate kitchen operations across departments and ensure smooth service.
• Support leadership tasks and act as an ambassador for the restaurant.

Skills

High-volume kitchen leadership

Fine dining expertise

Culinary creativity

Team leadership and coaching

Strong communication under pressure

Job description

Overview

The Post Oak Hotel is seeking a Restaurant Chef with Fine Dining Experience to join the only double Forbes Five-Star Hotel in Texas. We hire passionate and professional colleagues who genuinely delight our guests through curated and authentic experiences.

The Restaurant Chef will be responsible for overseeing the culinary operation, leading Sous Chefs and Cooks to deliver high-quality, locally inspired dining experiences across all meal services and venues.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operation, ensuring consistent food quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Develop and innovate menus, recipes, plating guides, and culinary concepts that align with the restaurant's brand and current food trends.
• Manage food safety, sanitation, and cleanliness standards in compliance with health regulations and Five-Star service expectations.
• Oversee kitchen staffing and scheduling, including daily lineups, forecast-based labor planning, and operational coverage.
• Control food and labor costs, monitor productivity, and ensure adherence to financial goals and budgets.
• Train, coach, and develop culinary team members, fostering skill development, performance improvement, and career growth.
• Manage inventory and purchasing, including ordering products, inspecting deliveries, maintaining quality standards, and controlling par levels.
• Coordinate kitchen operations and communication, ensuring effective collaboration across culinary departments and smooth opening and closing procedures.
• Support leadership and administrative responsibilities, including performance management, HR processes, hotel meetings, media events, and serving as an ambassador for the restaurant and hotel.

Qualifications

• Aspire to our values of being passionate, strive for excellence, remain relevant, collaborate and act with honor and integrity.
• 5+ years of experience working in a high-volume kitchen.
• Strong Culinary expertise, strong communication skills with ability to lead by example, ability to work efficiently under pressure managing priorities. Attention to detail.
• Previous fine dining restaurant experience, luxury or Forbes hotel experience preferred
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including nights, weekends and holidays is required.
• Physical demands: Ability to lift 50 pounds on a regular basis and prolonged extended periods of standing.

What we offer you:

• Multiple benefit plans to suit your needs
• Paid Time Off
• 401K
• Opportunities for advancement
• Positive and respectful work environment where diversity is valued
• Generous employee discounts on dining, retail, amusements, and hotels
• Community volunteer opportunities
• Complimentary parking and colleague meal

EOE

Disclaimer: The above information is intended as a high-level overview of the responsibilities and qualifications for the position and does not represent the full job description which will include all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, and working conditions associated with the job. For more information or to see the full job description, contact the Human Resources department at the location in which you are applying.

Tipped Position

This position does not earn tips