Executive Chef | Up to $120K | Walnut Street Caf

Executive Chef

Earn up to $110,000-$120,000 annually leading kitchen operations inside a polished, high-volume Philadelphia restaurant with an active private event business, free parking, and an established kitchen team.

Walnut Street Caf is hiring a hands-on Executive Chef or strong Executive Sous Chef to stabilize kitchen leadership, strengthen operational consistency, and support both restaurant and event production.

This role is best suited for a chef who enjoys balancing structured operational systems with the fast pace and constant adjustments of active restaurant service and private events.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Compensation: Estimated total compensation potential: $110,000-$120,000 annually; $80,000-$90,000 base salary; additional incentive equal to 0.5% of event bookings; paid on regular company payroll schedule

Benefits: Medical benefits; paid time off; paid sick days; bonus pay; free parking

Schedule: Full-time; approximately 45-50 hours per week; 5-day workweek; day, evening, weekend, holiday, and event availability required; event-driven scheduling flexibility required

About the Role: This is a hands-on leadership role inside a polished, high-volume restaurant with an established food and beverage operation and a strong private event business.

The Executive Chef will oversee kitchen operations, food quality, team leadership, labor controls, inventory systems, service execution, and event production while remaining active during daily operations and busy service periods.

The role requires someone comfortable leading both structured daily restaurant operations and the constant pace shifts that come with active events, staffing adjustments, production changes, and high-volume service.

We are looking for a chef who can: lead calmly during active service periods; support consistency across restaurant and event production; communicate professionally with ownership and staff; maintain strong kitchen organization and accountability; help strengthen systems, execution, and operational structure; support and stabilize the existing kitchen team; balance leadership, execution, and operational discipline

About the Restaurant: Walnut Street Caf is a polished, high-volume University City restaurant with a strong mix of daily dining and private events.

The kitchen supports both restaurant service and event production, requiring leadership that can move between structured daily operations and higher-volume event execution without losing consistency or organization.

The operation offers the infrastructure and stability of an established restaurant while still giving leadership the opportunity to make a meaningful operational impact on systems, standards, team performance, and overall kitchen execution.

Responsibilities: lead daily BOH operations during prep, production, and service; maintain food quality, consistency, and execution standards; support and stabilize the existing kitchen team; lead hands-on during active service periods; oversee ordering, inventory, receiving, and vendor relationships; manage scheduling, labor control, and payroll coordination; support private event and catering execution; train, coach, and develop hourly kitchen staff; maintain food safety, sanitation, and kitchen organization; control food cost, waste, prep systems, and pars; communicate professionally with ownership, management, FOH, and BOH teams; support operational improvements and menu execution

Qualifications: 5+ years of progressive kitchen leadership experience preferred; Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or senior sous chef experience strongly preferred; experience in polished casual, upscale casual, hotel, event-driven, or high-volume restaurant environments preferred; strong leadership and communication skills; experience managing both restaurant and event production; ability to lead calmly and effectively during busy service; strong organizational and cost-control skills; comfortable maintaining structure while improving systems and standards; ability to lift 50 lbs., stand for extended periods, and work active kitchen shifts; English required; Spanish proficiency is a plus

Ideal Candidate Traits: hands-on leadership style; reliable and accountable; organized under pressure; strong operational discipline; consistent communicator; adaptable during busy service; comfortable balancing repetitive operational structure with fast-moving service demands

How to Apply: Please submit your resume with full contact information and three professional references. Supervisor email addresses are required. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.