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Executive Chef Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

An Executive Chef, or Head Chef, is someone who is in charge of all of the food created inside the kitchen of a restaurant, event, or private residence. Their duties include creating and developing a menu, managing kitchen staff members, and helping prepare the meals served in the establishment.

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Executive Chef duties and responsibilities

When writing a job description for an Executive Chef, it’s important to specify the main functions of the role. Some of these important duties and responsibilities may include:

  • Developing a culinary plan to ensure quality satisfaction with both long- and short-term goals
  • Enhancing food quality by creating standards for other kitchen staff members
  • Monitoring the prices set on a menu by overseeing and comparing it to the cost of inventory, food orders, and supplies
  • Assisting with the creation of seasonal, monthly, or annual menus
  • Working with the Restaurant Manager to ensure food, beverage, and labour budgets are maintained and monitored
  • Supervising daily activities of the kitchen staff including Sous Chefs, Specialist Chefs, Cooks, and Assistants
  • Ensuring all kitchen equipment is running efficiently and arranging repairs or new parts when required
  • Looking over operating costs of running the kitchen to ensure food, equipment, and staffing budgets are not exceeded
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Executive Chef Job Description Examples:

What does an Executive Chef do?

An Executive Chef manages the culinary staff in the kitchen, which may include a few Cooks in a smaller restaurant to several Chefs and Culinary Assistants in a larger operation. The Executive Chef is also tasked with ensuring the food is delivered in a presentable manner, and that the food follows any standards required to deliver exceptional taste according to the set recipes. They may also have to manage any problems that arise in their establishment. The ultimate goal of an Executive Chef is to build and maintain the reputation of the restaurant they are working in to ensure profitability and repeat business. The Executive Chef will also ensure that productivity within the kitchen remains high and staff members are satisfied.

Executive Chef skills and qualifications

A successful Executive Chef candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications for the job, including:

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Ability to work as an individual contributor and as part of a team
  • Ability to anticipate problems and create innovative solutions
  • Solid leadership experience

Executive Chef experience requirements

The ideal candidate should have a minimum of one years’ worth of experience as an Executive Chef. If the candidate will be working in a large-scale operation, be sure to look for a resume that has experience working in a large kitchen with various staff members.

Executive Chef education and training requirements

A good Executive Chef candidate should have a minimum of a high school diploma. An ideal candidate will have completed a Chef’s trade certification from an accredited college. Be sure to look for an Executive Chef applicant who has completed the Red Seal examination for Cooks. Some applicants may have also undergone vocational management training.

Executive Chef salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Executive Chef in Canada is $60,100 per year. The salary can vary depending on many factors including experience, location, or type of restaurant that is hiring.

Job description samples for similar positions

If an Executive Chef role isn’t quite what you are looking for, other related job descriptions include:

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Executive Chef job description FAQs

What should you look for in an Executive Chef resume?

Attention to detail is an important skill for any Executive Chef to have. A good candidate should be able to work in fast-paced environments. Executive Chefs should also be creative by nature and able to formulate meals, specials and menus that suit the venue they work at. Executive Chefs often work long hours, so having stamina is important. Lastly, a good Executive Chef will be able to take constructive criticism from customers.

What qualities make a good Executive Chef?

A good job description for an Executive Chef lists in detail the type of cuisine and service the job applicant will be expected to provide. The job description should also have details about the hours the applicant will be expected to work and if weekends, holidays, or evening shifts are expected. Additionally, be sure to include any benefits that come with the role such as free meals, an RRSP matching program, or a budget for further education and training.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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