Chef de Cuisine | New Restaurant Opening | Auburn, CA
$80,000–$90,000 per year, plus bonus | Full-time | Exempt
Build something new from the ground up.
We’re opening a new chef-driven restaurant in Auburn in Spring 2027, and we’re looking for our opening Chef de Cuisine. This is a rare chance to shape a kitchen from day one working with our consultants on the menu, the team, the systems, and the culture.
The concept is built around artisan pizza from a hearth-style deck oven, seasonal cooking, and warm, genuine hospitality, plus on- and off-site catering and events. You’ll be the General Manager’s culinary partner and the hands-on leader of the kitchen.
What you’ll do
Lead the opening: hire, train, and build the back-of-house team
Develop and execute seasonal menus, recipes, and holiday specials with the General Manager
Lead hands-on during service, including running expo, keeping tickets moving, and holding every plate to standard
Create the kitchen’s systems: station pars, prep standards, opening and closing procedures, and training programs
Own food cost and labor: weekly inventory, purchasing, actual vs. theoretical food cost, and P&L performance
Direct the culinary side of catering and events
Build a calm, respectful, accountable kitchen where people want to work and grow
What you bring
4+ years of progressive culinary leadership in a high-quality, high-volume restaurant
Previous experience as Sous Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Executive Chef, Catering Chef, or equivalent
Experience with commercial deck or hearth-style pizza ovens, artisan pizza, and dough fermentation
Catering and banquet planning, production, and execution experience
Strong knowledge of seasonal sourcing, recipe development, and food and labor cost management
A leadership style built on teaching, coaching, and respect
Current food safety certification (ServSafe Manager or equivalent)
Valid California driver’s license with a clean driving record and insurance
Experience with Toast, 7shifts, and Craftable is a plus
A culinary or business degree is preferred; equivalent experience is accepted
Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs
Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays, with extended hours during opening and peak periods
Bilingual in Spanish is helpful
What we offer
$80,000–$90,000 annual salary, plus bonus
Great Medical, dental, and vision insurance, and company-paid life insurance
401k with Matching
The chance to put your stamp on a brand-new restaurant
Support from an established Northern California hospitality company
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.