Pan-Asian Executive Chef — Lead Kitchen Excellence

WUSA 1050 WATER TAMPA LLC; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

wagamama in Tampa, FL seeks an Executive Chef to lead all back-of-house operations, drive culinary excellence, and develop future leaders. You will partner with restaurant leadership to ensure exceptional guest experiences through high quality food, operational excellence, and strong financial management.

You'll recruit, coach, and build a high-performing kitchen team, oversee labor and food costs, and uphold food safety standards such as HACCP.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant; pan-Asian experience preferred.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing labor, food cost, inventory, and kitchen performance.
• Proven success leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, HACCP principles, and applicable certification requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead all back-of-house operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and execution.
• Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing culinary leadership team and kitchen staff.
• Drive labor, food cost, inventory, and operational performance to achieve business goals.
• Champion food safety, sanitation, HACCP compliance, and back-of-house operational standards.
• Oversee kitchen scheduling, staffing, purchasing, and vendor partnerships. Partner with front-of-house leadership to deliver exceptional guest experience.
• Drive continuous improvement through coaching, operational excellence, and the wagamama philosophy of kaizen.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture while building future culinary leaders.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Financial acumen

Team development

Food safety HACCP

Adaptability in fast-paced environment

Job description

wagamama in Tampa, FL seeks an Executive Chef to lead all back-of-house operations, drive culinary excellence, and develop future leaders. You will partner with restaurant leadership to ensure exceptional guest experiences through high quality food, operational excellence, and strong financial management.

You'll recruit, coach, and build a high-performing kitchen team, oversee labor and food costs, and uphold food safety standards such as HACCP.