Syracuse
Job Description Open to Out of State Candidates Open to Relocate EXECUTIVE CHEF We are seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead culinary operations for a high-volume hospitality and events environment. This position will oversee culinary strategy, menu development, production, team leadership, financial performance, food safety, and overall kitchen execution. The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary leader who has experience managing large-scale food production, developing teams, controlling costs, and delivering a consistently high-quality guest experience in a fast-paced environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Lead all day-to-day culinary and kitchen operations across restaurant, event, banquet, and/or concession service, • Develop creative menus based on seasonality, local ingredients, guest preferences, and current culinary trends, • Maintain recipe consistency, presentation standards, portion control, and overall food quality, • Plan production schedules and staffing levels based on anticipated business volume and event needs, • Oversee food and labor costs while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability, • Manage purchasing, ordering, receiving, inventory, storage, and food preparation, • Ensure kitchen operations meet all applicable health, sanitation, food safety, and HACCP standards, • Maintain kitchen equipment, cleanliness standards, and preventative maintenance procedures, • Recruit, hire, train, coach, and develop culinary and stewarding team members, • Establish clear performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback and development, • Coordinate food production and execution for banquets, catered events, and other large-scale functions, • Partner with operations and event teams to ensure successful execution of events and guest experiences, • Participate in client tastings, menu presentations, and culinary demonstrations when needed, • Support proposals and menu development for prospective events and clients, • Build relationships within the local culinary and hospitality community, • Continuously evaluate processes to improve quality, productivity, labor efficiency, and guest satisfaction, • Perform additional leadership responsibilities as needed LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES This position is responsible for leading culinary and stewarding teams, including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, employee development, and day-to-day operational direction. QUALIFICATIONS • High school diploma or equivalent required, • Approximately 8+ years of progressive culinary experience, • Strong background in high-volume food production, large events, banquets, hospitality, or similar environments, • Previous culinary leadership or kitchen management experience strongly preferred, • Experience working within structured or unionized environments is beneficial, • Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP practices, • Demonstrated ability to manage food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and operational budgets, • Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop culinary teams, • Excellent organization, communication, and time-management skills, • Ability to manage multiple priorities and execute effectively under tight timelines, • Creative approach to menu development, food presentation, and culinary programming, • Strong guest-service mindset and professional presence, • Ability to work a flexible schedule based on business and event needs, including evenings, weekends, early mornings, and holidays CERTIFICATIONS Serve-Safe Certified/Food Handlers Certificate \nCompany Description The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed. The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.