Executive Chef - Upscale, Chef-Driven Scratch Kitchen | $110K + Bonus

Charlotte, NC | $95,000–$110,000 Base + Bonus & Benefits

Lead the Kitchen. Shape the Culinary Experience. Build the Team.

We are conducting a search for an accomplished Executive Chef to lead the culinary operations of a high-volume, chef-driven restaurant in Charlotte, NC.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader who combines strong classical fundamentals, scratch-kitchen expertise, financial discipline, and exceptional team leadership. The ideal candidate is passionate about seasonal ingredients, thoughtful menu execution, wood-fired cooking, and delivering a consistently elevated guest experience in a demanding, high-volume environment.

This is not a position for a chef who wants to simply manage from the office. We are looking for a true culinary leader who leads from the kitchen, develops people, protects standards, and takes ownership of the entire BOH operation.

The Opportunity

As Executive Chef, you will have ownership of the kitchen's daily performance, culinary standards, team development, and financial results.

You will work closely with the General Manager and leadership team to ensure the restaurant delivers exceptional food, strong hospitality, operational consistency, and profitable results.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all back-of-house operations for a high-volume, upscale full-service restaurant
• Maintain exceptional standards for food quality, consistency, presentation, and execution
• Lead a scratch kitchen with a strong focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients
• Oversee daily kitchen operations while maintaining a strong hands-on presence
• Recruit, train, coach, mentor, and retain a high-performing culinary team
• Create a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and culinary excellence
• Manage food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, waste, and kitchen controllables
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and effective ordering systems
• Partner with the General Manager on financial performance and operational goals
• Ensure recipes, prep standards, plating specifications, and quality controls are consistently followed
• Maintain excellent sanitation, food safety, organization, and cleanliness standards
• Manage BOH scheduling and staffing based on business volume
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with vendors and purveyors
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, profitability, and overall kitchen performance
• Lead through high-volume service while maintaining composure and consistency
• Help evolve the culinary program while protecting the integrity of the restaurant's concept

What We're Looking For

The strongest candidates will bring a combination of culinary excellence, leadership maturity, and operational discipline.

Ideal Qualifications

• 3+ years of Executive Chef experience or significant senior culinary leadership experience
• Proven background in upscale casual, chef-driven, high-volume, or elevated full-service restaurants
• Strong scratch-kitchen experience and excellent culinary fundamentals
• Experience working with seasonal, fresh, and locally sourced ingredients
• Strong understanding of culinary execution, menu standards, and kitchen systems
• Demonstrated success managing food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and BOH financials
• Experience leading, developing, and retaining culinary teams
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to coach and hold teams accountable while creating a positive kitchen culture
• Comfortable leading high-volume services in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• High standards for food quality, sanitation, safety, and consistency
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to balance culinary creativity with operational discipline

The Right Leadership Profile

We are looking for a chef who is:

Hands-On: You're visible in the kitchen and understand that leadership starts with setting the example.

Team-Focused: You know how to build strong teams, develop future leaders, and create a kitchen culture people want to be part of.

Business-Minded: You understand that great food must be supported by strong food cost, labor management, inventory control, and profitability.

Culinary-Driven: You care deeply about ingredients, technique, consistency, presentation, and the guest experience.

Calm Under Pressure: You can lead a demanding service without losing focus, professionalism, or control.

Compensation & Benefits

• $95,000–$110,000 base salary, based on experience
• Bonus potential
• Benefits package
• Opportunity to lead a high-volume, chef-driven culinary operation
• Strong platform for continued professional growth and culinary leadership

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact culinary leadership position within an established restaurant environment in Charlotte.

The right Executive Chef will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the culinary program, develop a talented team, influence operational performance, and help deliver an exceptional guest experience every day.

If you're an accomplished Executive Chef who is ready to take ownership of a serious culinary operation and lead a team with purpose, we want to hear from you.

Apply today for confidential consideration.

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.