Salad Bar Executive Chef

Stew Leonard; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Life insurance

Job summary

Stew Leonard is seeking an Executive Chef to oversee all culinary operations, including menu planning, food preparation, and maintaining high quality and safety standards across Kitchen, BBQ, Pizza and Hoedown.

This full-time role requires leadership, cost control, staff development, and collaboration with store teams. We offer competitive pay in the $75,000–$97,572 range, medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, paid time off, and opportunities for advancement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Culinary Degree is required.
• 5 years senior-level grocery/retail culinary experience.
• Food Safety and Sanitation certification required.
• Strong culinary creativity and innovation essential.
• Knowledge of current food trends and market conditions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all culinary operations and ensure high quality and safety standards.
• Plan menus, manage food preparation, and supervise Kitchen, BBQ, Pizza and Hoedown.
• Lead daily operations, scheduling, training, and inventory control.
• Monitor labor, budgets, and cost management to meet financial goals.
• Collaborate with team members and participate in department meetings.

Skills

5 years experience at senior level

Strong culinary creativity

Knowledge of food trends

Education

Bachelor’s Culinary Degree

Food Safety and Sanitation certification

Job description

Executive Chef

Full Time Salary – Estimated pay range $$75,000 - $97,572 depending on qualifications and experience. Must be at least 18 years and older

Position Description:

As the Executive Chef, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the culinary operation. Your role will encompass menu planning, food preparation, and maintaining high food quality and safety standards. You will oversee that the operating procedures are met for Kitchen, BBQ, Pizza and Hoedown.

Your day-to-day:

• Ensure the salad bar and displays are merchandised and appropriate signage is visible
• Ensure displays are full and product is rotated appropriately

• Provides direction for all day-to-day operations; utilize Round Up for production scheduling
• Review One Idea Report to identify opportunities to achieve goals
• Show and sell and cross merchandise whenever possible
• Place orders with vendors and transfers, when needed
• Ensure accurate inventories- daily and monthly
• Participate in monthly, quarterly and yearly department inventories
• Attend department BASH and Strategy meetings
• Assist in hiring, promoting, and training team members
• Provide timely feedback by completing and delivering comprehensive 90 day and mid-year Performance Chats
• Provide feedback to department manager for Annual Performance Appraisals
• Conduct and/or actively participate in monthly department communication meetings
• Manage team members progressive disciplinary procedures

• Ensure the department complies with all health codes, sanitation and safety regulations. Maintain a Health Dept. rating of “A”
• Conduct/oversee daily/periodic department cleaning

• Cycle menus for hot and cold buffet bimonthly
• Support and facilitate training for Culinary Team Members
• Monitor, analyze, manage, and communicate financial goals
• Support planning meetings for menus and recipes for major holidays
• Communication – 10-minute huddles and monthly meetings to update team on sales, holiday planning, celebrate birthdays, anniversaries
• Uphold our mission statement “Customer is Always Right”

Labor:

• Monitor daily labor to ensure operational needs and financial objectives are met.
• Cultivate relationships with local culinary schools for interns
• Cross-training to improve team’s skills in different areas of the department

Budget and Cost Management:

• Monitor inventory levels and minimize food waste
• Oversee daily production and sales within the department to control over/ under sales.
• Implement cost-effective measures while maintaining food quality and customer satisfaction
• Review and audit all internal and external transfers

What you bring to the team:

• Ability to handle multiple tasks, and troubleshoot effectively
• Detail-oriented with organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Foster a culture of teamwork and professionalism, promoting a positive work environment
• Conduct and participate in culinary training sessions and workshops as needed
• Attend/participate in trade shows
• Above average math and computer skills
• Able to work effectively under staff and labor constraints in a fast- paced environment
• Strong work ethic
• High integrity and honest judgment of people
• Good business savvy with a grasp of financial and operating goals
• Ability to make quick decisions

Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience at senior level in a grocery store or similar environment
• Bachelor’s Culinary Degree
• Food Safety and Sanitation certification
• Strong culinary creativity and innovation
• Knowledge of food trends and market conditions

Satisfy:

• Greet customers with a friendly smile and positive attitude, ensuring that each customer feels welcome and appreciated.

Teamwork:

• Collaborate with team members to ensure the smooth operation of the store, offering assistance and support where needed.

Excellence:

• Improve and maintain the efficiency of the store in order to reach success.

Wow:

• Be a positive ambassador for the store, representing our S.T.E.W. values in all interactions with customers and team members. You are the biggest WOW!

Why you’ll love working here!

Family Oriented:

We respect the personal balance between work and family with career opportunity and growth- over 80% of our managers have been promoted from within.

Benefits:

High value, high quality Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, 401 K plan for FT & PT team members, family & personal time, life insurance, and more!

Environment:

Have you seen the Avocado Girls? Chiquita Banana? Or the singing Parrot?

Pay Day:

We’re thrilled to offer our employees Dayforce Wallet – a new way to get paid. Say bye-bye to pay day and hello to pay your way. Get your pay as soon as you earn it, at no cost to you– It’s your money, why should you have to wait? Request your pay as you earn it.

We take pride in the power of diversity, inclusion, and being socially responsible to the communities, which we live and do business

http://www.stewleonards.com/work-at-stews/