Chef de Cuisine

Benefits:

• 2 weeks PTO
  

• Free health insurance
  

• Retirement Plan
  

• Profit Sharing
  

• Dining Stipend
  

We re looking for a Chef de Cuisine who leads from the center of the kitchen with clarity, accountability, and heart. This role is for someone who loves executing exceptional food at a consistently high level, developing people, and building systems. .

If you thrive in high-expectation environments and believe that excellence is a team sport, keep reading.

Job Requirements

• 3-5+ years of progressive scratch kitchen leadership experience, including at least 1-2 years as a Sous Chef or CDC.
  

• Experience in a high-volume, high-standard restaurant (fine dining or chef-driven preferred).
  

• Proven track record of managing food cost, labor cost, and inventory systems.
  

• Strong understanding of kitchen financials, including P&L statements and budgeting.
  

• Demonstrated ability to hire, train, develop, and retain kitchen staff.
  

• Experience building schedules and managing overtime responsibly.
  

• Must possess a current food handlers card.
  

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  

• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
  

• Physical ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
  

What You'll Do

• Oversee all back-of-house operations across lunch, dinner, happy hour, dessert, private events, and catering.
  

• Work with the executive chef to develop dishes.
  

• Ensure consistent execution, quality, and presentation across every service.
  

• Maintain a clean, safe, highly organized kitchen environment.
  

• Manage food and labor costs with precision and integrity.
  

• Track inventory, oversee procurement, and minimize waste.
  

• Hit financial targets without compromising quality or culture.
  

• Hire, train, and mentor BOH staff.
  

• Provide clear expectations, direct feedback, and consistent accountability.
  

• Foster a culture where we replaces me and shared wins matter.
  

• Ensure compliance with all local health and safety regulations.
  

• Conduct regular inspections of equipment, storage, and prep areas.
  

• Maintain systems that support consistency and continuous improvement.
  

• Work closely with the AGM to execute seamless food service for events and catering.
  

• Support front-of-house leadership in delivering cohesive guest experiences.
  

Who You Are

• A systems thinker who believes strong structure supports creativity.
  

• Financially fluent, you understand food cost, labor targets, and operational efficiency.
  

• A calm, decisive leader who shows up fully and expects others to do the same.
  

• Comfortable having hard conversations when necessary because you care about the team and the standard.
  

• Curious and solutions-focused. You start from how can we make this work?
  

• Detail-oriented, you know that guests feel what they don t see.
  

About Kachka

Kachka was opened in Portland in 2014 by Bonnie and Israel Morales, and has since become beloved by diners worldwide. James Beard Award nominated Chef/Co-Owner Bonnie Morales and her team cook the food of the former Soviet Republics, including many dishes inspired by her heritage as a first-generation daughter of Jewish immigrants from Belarus. The warm hospitality and lively atmosphere at Kachka turns dinner into an event, fueled by a parade of dishes marked by deep and vibrant flavors such as dumplings, cured fish and pickled vegetables. Kachka serves over 50 different vodka selections, as well a list of house made infusions, craft cocktails, and a curated list of beer and wine with a focus on Eastern European producers. We recently opened Kachka Spirits, where we distill and bottle our own vodkas which are available at retail liquor stores throughout the West Coast. We also welcomed Kachka Fabrika, our new bar in NE Portland which is attached to the distillery. Kachka has been lauded in myriad publications, and was most recently featured in the Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil, as well as the Emmy award-winning docuseries The Migrant Kitchen.

Kachka Lavka, a deli and grocery upstairs from Kachka, is a showcase for housemade charcuterie, cured fish, and freshly baked Eastern European breads, as well as an outlet for their frozen dumplings and myriad imported grocery items. Kachka and Kachka Lavka are currently open 7 days a week. Please read more about Kachka at kachkapdx.com.