EXECUTIVE CHEF
High-Volume Seafood Restaurant • Newport, Rhode Island • USD $105,000 - $120,000 + Up to 20% Bonus
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are searching for an Executive Chef for a landmark high-volume waterfront seafood restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island. This is an iconic dining destination with a legacy spanning over three decades, celebrated for exceptional seafood, an award-winning wine list, and an unmatched waterfront setting.
The restaurant operates at significant volume with a strong seasonal peak, and this role demands a culinary leader who has owned their vision, built and led large kitchen teams, and thrives in a high-energy, independent restaurant environment.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Lead all culinary operations, maintaining the highest standards of food quality, consistency, and presentation across all service periods
- Own and drive menu development, bringing a distinct culinary vision rooted in seafood and coastal cuisine
- Build, manage, and develop a large back-of-house team including recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance management
- Maintain operational excellence during peak season, managing high daily cover counts with consistency
- Manage food costs, labour, and kitchen budgets to achieve financial targets
- Uphold food safety, hygiene, and HACCP standards across all kitchen operations
- Source and maintain strong relationships with quality seafood and local ingredient suppliers
- Collaborate with front-of-house leadership to ensure a seamless guest experience
- Foster a high-performance, positive kitchen culture
WHAT YOU BRING
- Demonstrated high-volume, full-service restaurant experience at significant annual revenue scale
- Strong seafood and coastal cuisine background - does not need to be most recent, but must be substantial
- Menu development and ownership experience: must have developed and driven your own culinary vision, not solely executed someone else's
- Proven leadership of a large back-of-house team - strong people leadership is essential
- Stable employment history; candidates with short stints should be prepared to provide context
- Independent or chef-driven concept background is strongly preferred
WHAT'S OFFERED
- Base salary of USD $105,000 - $120,000 per year
- Annual performance bonus of up to 20%
- Quarterly dining allowance
- Relocation sign-on bonus for qualifying out-of-area candidates
- A leadership role at one of New England's most iconic waterfront dining destinations