Executive Chef - French Brasserie

Job Description

Job Description

An established French brasserie and bakery concept is seeking a talented, passionate, and hands-on Executive Chef to lead its culinary operations in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

This is an excellent opportunity for a creative culinary leader with a strong foundation in classical French cuisine, scratch cooking, and seasonal, ingredient-driven menus. The Executive Chef will oversee daily kitchen operations, develop and mentor a talented culinary team, and maintain exceptional food quality and operational standards.

The ideal candidate appreciates the balance of traditional French techniques and modern culinary creativity while bringing strong business acumen and a commitment to an outstanding guest experience.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Develop and execute seasonal, French-inspired menus using fresh, high-quality ingredients and scratch-made preparations.
• Maintain strong standards in classical French cooking techniques, recipes, preparation, and execution.
• Lead, mentor, train, and develop a high-performing culinary team.
• Collaborate with bakery and pastry teams to deliver a cohesive dining experience.
• Manage food costs, labor expenses, inventory, purchasing, and overall kitchen profitability.
• Establish and maintain recipes, portion standards, preparation procedures, and quality controls.
• Build relationships with local farmers, suppliers, and specialty purveyors.
• Oversee kitchen staffing, scheduling, hiring, and employee performance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Partner with ownership and restaurant leadership on menu development, special events, and operational improvements.
• Maintain an active presence in daily kitchen operations and lead by example during service.

 

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as an Executive Chef or Executive Sous Chef in an upscale restaurant, French brasserie, bistro, or fine-dining environment.
• Strong foundation in classical French cuisine and traditional cooking techniques .
• Experience with seasonal menu development, scratch cooking, and high-quality ingredients.
• Background in bakery, pastry, or bread production is a plus.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, develop, and retain culinary teams.
• Strong financial acumen, including food-cost management, labor controls, purchasing, inventory, and recipe costing.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on leadership style with a passion for culinary excellence.
• Ability to maintain high standards while managing a busy, multifaceted kitchen operation.
• Culinary degree or formal culinary training preferred but not required.
• Flexible availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays.

 

\nCompany Description

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.

Company Description

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.