Resident Chef & In-Store Cooking Class Leader

CSC Generation Enterprise; The Villages (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sur La Table in The Villages, FL seeks a Resident Chef to lead high-performing culinary teams, run in-store cooking classes, and elevate the guest experience. You will mentor staff, manage operations, ensure food safety, and drive sales through engaging demonstrations and private events.

Requires 1–2 years teaching, 3–4 years management, a culinary degree (preferred), and a Food Manager Certification. Willingness to lead with passion and hospitality is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employment.
• Culinary degree strongly preferred. We will only consider equivalent experience in exceptional cases.
• 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.
• Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems preferred.

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.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Instructor experience

Kitchen management

Food Manager Cert

Communication

Education

Culinary degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Retail systems

Job description

Sur La Table in The Villages, FL seeks a Resident Chef to lead high-performing culinary teams, run in-store cooking classes, and elevate the guest experience. You will mentor staff, manage operations, ensure food safety, and drive sales through engaging demonstrations and private events.

Requires 1–2 years teaching, 3–4 years management, a culinary degree (preferred), and a Food Manager Certification. Willingness to lead with passion and hospitality is essential.