Resident Chef & Culinary Program Leader

Cscgeneration 2; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sur La Table is seeking a Resident Chef to lead culinary teams, teach cooking classes, and drive in-store customer experiences. You will mentor staff, ensure high-quality class delivery, and collaborate with store leadership to boost foot traffic and engagement.

The role emphasizes culinary expertise, sales-driven performance, and strong leadership to uphold brand standards across kitchen and retail operations.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree strongly preferred; we will consider equivalent experience.
• 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.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high performing team.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

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.
• Ensures 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.

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Retail systems

Job description

Sur La Table is seeking a Resident Chef to lead culinary teams, teach cooking classes, and drive in-store customer experiences. You will mentor staff, ensure high-quality class delivery, and collaborate with store leadership to boost foot traffic and engagement.

The role emphasizes culinary expertise, sales-driven performance, and strong leadership to uphold brand standards across kitchen and retail operations.