Executive Chef

About Kinney Lane

Kinney Lane is a chef-driven prepared foods company and premium ready-to-eat market serving Fairfield County, Connecticut. Our mission is simple: make healthy eating easier through seasonal, approachable food made from scratch with high-quality ingredients.

What started as a local meal delivery service has grown into one of the region's most recognized food brands. As consumer demand continues to shift toward high-quality, ready-to-eat foods, we are expanding our production capacity, retail offerings, and future locations. We are seeking an Executive Chef to help lead our culinary operations during this exciting next phase of growth.

Kinney Lane has been voted Best Meal Delivery Service, Best Health Food, and Best Grab & Go across Fairfield County. We have been featured among Fairfield County's "Chicest Meal Delivery Services" by Westport Magazine and recognized as one of Connecticut's Top 5 Most Innovative Emerging Food Brands.

Position Overview

This is a leadership role for a chef who loves both cooking and building systems. Reporting directly to the Culinary Director, the Executive Chef will be responsible for leading daily culinary operations, developing and managing the kitchen team, maintaining exceptional food quality, and helping scale production as the company grows.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing recipes, managing production, coaching team members, controlling costs, and jumping onto the line when needed. We are looking for a hands-on leader who can inspire a team, maintain high standards, and help build the foundation for the next stage of growth, including supporting operations across multiple locations as the company expands.

What You'll Do

• Report directly to the Culinary Director and help execute the company's culinary vision
• Lead daily kitchen operations and culinary production
• Manage and mentor a growing team of chefs, cooks, and kitchen staff
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and workflow optimization
• Maintain the highest standards of food quality, consistency, cleanliness, and food safety
• Collaborate with the Culinary Director on menu development, recipe testing, and product innovation
• Manage inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and receiving
• Monitor food costs, labor efficiency, waste, and kitchen profitability
• Help develop systems and processes that support growth and scalability
• Assist in building and managing culinary operations across multiple locations as the company expands
• Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative kitchen culture built on respect, communication, and continuous improvement
• Partner with leadership on operational initiatives and expansion plans
  
  

What We Offer

• Daytime hours (rare in most kitchens)
• Competitive salary, growth opportunities, and potential ownership opportunities for the right candidate
• Significant leadership responsibility and influence over the future of the company
• Opportunity to help build and scale a rapidly growing food business
• Supportive, collaborative, zero-ego culture
• Work with high-quality ingredients sourced from local and regenerative farms
• Creative input on menus, products, and culinary direction
• Meaningful work helping busy families eat healthier and spend more time around the table
• A career rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and human connection—qualities that technology can support but never replace
  
  

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional culinary experience, including leadership responsibilities
• Experience managing kitchen teams and high-volume production environments
• Strong understanding of food costing, inventory management, and kitchen operations
• Experience with menu development and recipe standardization
• Experience in meal delivery, commissary, catering, CPG, or large-scale production environments preferred
• Passion for healthy, seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to lead by example and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable working at least one weekend day per week as needed
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment to continuous improvement

Who Thrives Here

The ideal candidate is an ambitious chef who wants to help build something bigger than themselves. We value humility, accountability, curiosity, and teamwork. In a world increasingly shaped by technology and automation, thoughtfully prepared food remains deeply human.

If you're excited by the idea of leading a talented team, helping scale a fast-growing food company, and creating food that genuinely improves people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.