Westlake Village
Job Description As Executive Chef, you lead the kitchen and set the tone for the entire F&B program. This role is about delivering great food, running a sharp operation, and building a team that performs at a high level every day. You own the experience for all outlet restaurants, banquets, catering, activations, and in-room dining. It’s a balance of creativity and discipline: strong menus, clean execution, and consistent results. You’re hands-on when it matters, strategic where it counts, and accountable for both guest experience and financial performance. HOW YOU’LL SHAPE THE EXPERIENCE & FUTURE • Lead, hire, and develop a strong culinary team that can execute at scale, • Own daily kitchen operations: prep, execution, consistency, and presentation, • Build and evolve menus that are relevant, seasonal, and guest-driven, • Partner with Ops, F&B, and Sales to deliver standout events and banquets, • Manage food cost, labor, and purchasing with discipline, • Stay on top of inventory, vendors, and product quality, • Keep kitchens clean, safe, and fully compliant—no shortcuts, • Drive efficiency without sacrificing quality, • Delivery of results: guest satisfaction, team performance, and profitability, • Other duties as assigned WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE • Clean, consistent food that looks right and eats well every time, • A team that’s trained, engaged, and accountable, • Kitchens that run organized, efficient, and calm under pressure, • Menus that sell and make sense financially, • Strong execution across both a la carte and high-volume banquet business, • No surprises—costs, staffing, and ops are controlled KEY STRENGTHS • Strong culinary fundamentals and high-volume execution, • Solid business acumen (food cost, labor, forecasting, menu engineering), • Clear, direct communicator who sets the standard and holds the line, • Organized, detail-oriented, and solution-driven, • Builds teams, develops talent, and leads from the front, • Balances creativity with operational reality CULINARY FOUNDATIONS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE This is a senior-level culinary leadership role, ideal for those with a proven track record of excellence in high-end hospitality environments. First-time Executive Chefs will not be considered. Experience in luxury or premium hotel kitchens is strongly preferred. Additional Required Qualifications: • 8+ years in professional kitchens, • Proven leadership at the Exec Sous or Executive Chef level, • Hotel or high-end hospitality experience preferred, • Strong banquet and multi-outlet experience Preferred Education & Experience: • High school diploma or GED with at least 6 years of culinary or F&B leadership experience, or, • 2-year degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or a related field from an accredited institution, plus 4 years of relevant professional experience. Certifications Required: • Food safety certification (ServSafe or equivalent), • Comfortable with systems (POS, purchasing, inventory, scheduling tools) Academic background & Culinary Development: • Graduate of an accredited culinary institution, with certification in professional culinary arts or equivalent formal training; advanced coursework or continuing education in hospitality leadership is a plus, • Proficient in industry-standard hospitality software, including MICROS POS, Oracle hospitality systems, and BirchStreet for procurement and cost control, • Experienced in using Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word) for inventory management, scheduling, budgeting, and communication at an executive level, • Familiarity with payroll and labor platforms such as Paychex Benefits • Medical, dental, and vision (HSA available), • Company-paid disability & life insurance, • Employee Assistance Program, • Supplemental benefits, • 401(k) with match, • Employee discounts, • Paid vacation & sick time THE ROLE This isn’t just running a kitchen, it’s owning a business. You drive the food, the team, and the results.