Open-Air Culinary Leader — Chef de Cuisine

AZ Beauty Age; Ocala (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nest at Calesa in Ocala, FL seeks a Chef de Cuisine to lead Cow Bird Kitchen and Faregrounds concepts, oversee catering and events, and build a culture of excellence across a busy, open-air hospitality destination. You will shape menus, manage food costs, and guide multi-venue culinary teams for top-tier guest experiences.

You will drive training, safety, and operational discipline in a fast-paced environment, partnering with leadership to deliver consistent quality and hospitality that

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Experience as Chef de Cuisine or senior chef in high-volume, multi-venue settings.
• Experience with barbecue and smoke-forward cooking preferred.
• Strong financial and P&L acumen with budgeting, procurement, and inventory.
• Proven ability to lead and develop culinary teams across venues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop culinary leadership across Cow Bird Kitchen, Faregrounds, event catering, and related operations.
• Own food-cost performance through recipe costing, menu engineering, portion control, and waste reduction.
• Oversee daily culinary operations, ensuring disciplined preparation, service, and safety standards.
• Plan menus and production for concerts, catering, private events, and festivals.
• Hire, train, and schedule kitchen staff; ensure cross-training and staff development.

Skills

Culinary Leadership

Menu Engineering

Food Cost Management

Budgeting

Procurement

Inventory Control

Labor Management

Team Development

Food Safety

P&L Acumen

Education

Culinary Arts Degree

Job description

The Nest at Calesa in Ocala, FL seeks a Chef de Cuisine to lead Cow Bird Kitchen and Faregrounds concepts, oversee catering and events, and build a culture of excellence across a busy, open-air hospitality destination. You will shape menus, manage food costs, and guide multi-venue culinary teams for top-tier guest experiences.

You will drive training, safety, and operational discipline in a fast-paced environment, partnering with leadership to deliver consistent quality and hospitality that