Executive Chef

Job Description

Job Description

Job description:

Position Overview

Rita’s Catering is looking for a hands-on, creative, and experienced Executive Chef to lead our high-volume, fast-paced kitchen. From breakfast boxes and corporate lunches to social events and airline catering, you'll oversee production across multiple food stations while driving innovation, efficiency, and team development.

Primary Duties & Expectations

• Ordering and managing food inventory for all departments, including accurate quantity forecasting and quality control
• Ensuring consistent food quality across all menus, services, and events
• Managing staffing, scheduling, and time management for all culinary employees
• Monitoring and controlling overtime, labor efficiency, and overall labor costs
• Partnering with the Controller to ensure food cost targets, margins, overhead, and per-minute/per-plate performance metrics are achieved
• Ensuring all culinary operations meet sanitation standards and remain fully compliant with FDA regulations and applicable state and local health requirements
• Enforcing uniform, grooming, and professional attire standards for all kitchen and food service employees
• Developing, maintaining, and reviewing menus and menu pricing to ensure appropriate margins and operational efficiency
• Implementing and enforcing portion control standards across all departments
• Creating, maintaining, and enforcing standardized recipes, culinary guides, and preparation procedures
• Establishing and managing schedules for culinary staff and supporting team leadership and accountability
• Supporting all events and service operations to ensure quality, consistency, and execution

This role is ideal for a chef who thrives in a dynamic environment, loves building strong teams, and is passionate about consistently delivering high quality food with exceptional presentation.

Essential Job Functions

Food Production & Quality

· Oversee prep and execution across all kitchen areas: hot line, deli, platters, bakery, airline, and more.

· Ensure food is consistently high in quality, taste, and appearance.

· Lead and train kitchen staff to uphold Rita’s standards at every step.

Menu & Product Development

· Design and update seasonal and event-specific menus.

· Collaborate with our Bakery Manager to align baked goods with seasonal themes and events.

Social Catering & Event Support

· Work closely with the Sales team to customize menus and staffing for client events.

· Provide on-site support for major events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and guests are happy.

Inventory & Ordering

· Manage kitchen inventory, maintaining par levels and using FIFO best practices.

· Handle purchasing and vendor communication to keep kitchens well-stocked and cost-efficient.

Team Development & Training

· Promote cross-training and skill growth within the team.

· Ensure staff is trained in food safety, cleanliness, and kitchen systems.

Operational Excellence

· Keep production on schedule to meet daily and event timelines.

· Monitor labor and food costs while maintaining product quality.

· Work with the Operations team to enforce cleaning and maintenance schedules for equipment.

Kitchen Cleanliness & Maintenance

· Ensure all kitchen and prep areas are kept clean, organized, and up to health standards.

· Partner with the Operations team to maintain equipment cleaning schedules and ensure functionality.

· Promote a culture of cleanliness, safety, and accountability throughout the kitchen.

Sales Collaboration

· Maintain open lines of communication with Sales to support client needs.

· Help troubleshoot last-minute requests and ensure successful event execution.

Qualifications

· 7+ years of experience in a culinary or catering leadership role

· Strong background in high-volume food production

· Creative menu planning and trend awareness

· Strong understanding of Rita’s products, clients, and pace of service

· Serve Safe & Allergen Awareness certifications

· Tech-savvy: familiar with catering software and Microsoft Office

Key Skills

· Strong leadership and team-building ability

· Excellent time management and organization

· Customer-focused with a hospitality mindset

· Deep understanding of food safety and kitchen operations

Additional Information

This job description is not all-inclusive, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The final salary will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person