Private Chef Opening– Rotating Team Position (Soho, NY)

Lily Pond Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 158,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Lily Pond Services LLC is seeking an experienced, polished Full-Time Private Chef to join a private family’s culinary team in the New York area. The role rotates between lunch and dinner weekly, supporting a family of five with a focus on healthy, farm-to-table cuisine and elegant presentation.

Responsibilities include menu planning with the second chef, sourcing premium ingredients, and maintaining a spotless kitchen.

Qualifications

• Discretion and professionalism essential in private household settings.
• Strong time management and organizational skills for rotating lunch/dinner duties.
• Excellence in plating, presentation, and health-conscious, farm-to-table cuisine.
• Ability to adapt menus for dietary restrictions and age groups, including children.
• Proven experience in UHNW households or high-profile private staffing environments.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and execute daily lunch or dinner for principals, children, and guests.
• Collaborate with the second chef on menu planning, sourcing, and maintaining high standards.
• Create diverse, seasonal, farm-to-table dishes with elegant plating.
• Source ingredients, manage groceries, inventory, and supplier relationships.
• Maintain an immaculate, organized kitchen and adapt to casual and formal entertaining.
• Work discreetly in a home with a dog and children, upholding confidentiality.

Skills

Discretion

Time management

Plating & presentation

Adaptability

Team collaboration

Education

Formal culinary training from a recognized institution

Job description

A private family is seeking an experienced, polished, and creative Full-Time Private Chef to join their established culinary team of two. The role supports a family of 5 who place a high value on beautiful, healthy, farm-to-table cuisine, elegant presentation, and refined plating.The two chefs will rotate responsibilities on a weekly basis: one week focusing on lunch (with the other off), the following week focusing on dinner (with the other off). This ensures variety, exceptional quality, consistency, and adherence to formal dining standards while providing a balanced schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and execute daily lunch or dinner service (never both in the same week) for the principals, their children, and any guests
• Collaborate closely with the second chef on menu planning, coordination, ingredient sourcing, and maintaining consistent high standards of quality, nutrition, and presentation
• Create diverse, fresh, seasonal, healthy, and elegantly plated dishes across various cuisine styles, with strong emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients
• Accommodate specific dietary restrictions and health-focused preferences for family members
• Source premium, high-quality, fresh ingredients; manage grocery shopping, kitchen inventory, and supplier relationships
• Maintain an immaculate, highly organized kitchen at all times
• Adapt seamlessly to casual family dining, formal entertaining/events, and meals suitable for children
• Work comfortably around a small dog, children, and family members in the home
• Uphold the highest levels of discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Demonstrate highly efficient time management and organizational skills to deliver exceptional results independently and collaboratively

Additional Duties

• Occasional short stays and live-in periods in upstate New York as needed
• International travel (approximately one month per year in Europe during summer), rotating with the other chef; full accommodations provided
• Work primarily out of a local kitchen for meal prep, then move to the residence for final preparation and service

Schedule: Monday-Friday (5 full days per week), live-out position based in Soho, NYC

Weekends off approximately 80% of the time Overall: ~80% live-out in NYC / ~20% travel and live-in.

Housing & Accommodations

Private room provided in upstate New York during accompanying stays

Overnights not required for local NYC-area candidates (live-out primary)

Full accommodations provided during European and other travel (one month on one month off).

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience as a Private Chef in high-profile or ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) households
• Formal culinary training from a recognized and accredited institution
• Demonstrated expertise in healthy, seasonal, farm-to-table, and formal plated cuisine
• Strong culinary foundation with exceptional skills in plating, presentation, kitchen organization, and time management
• Experience preparing meals for mature principals and children with refined tastes, specific dietary/health preferences, and restrictions
• Professional demeanor; comfortable working in a family environment with children and a small dog
• Outstanding attention to detail, cleanliness, and hygiene standards
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with household staff and the rotating chef
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Authorized to work in the United States

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $175,000 annually (commensurate with experience) Full health benefits 401(k)
• Flexible schedule and professional approach

This position offers a rare opportunity to work in a collaborative, rotating team environment with significant time off built in, while delivering world-class, health-conscious cuisine to a discerning family. Ideal candidates will bring creativity, discretion, and a genuine passion for family-focused, elevated home dining.