Head Chef

Nonnegotiable experience

• At least 5 years of progressive professional kitchen experience.
• At least 2–3 years leading a full-service, upscale, hotel, resort, club, or chef-driven restaurant kitchen.
• Demonstrated responsibility for scheduling, labor management, food cost, purchasing, inventory, sanitation, and kitchen profitability.
• Experience supervising, coaching, documenting, and—when necessary—disciplining underperforming employees.
• Proven ability to build systems: prep lists, station standards, recipe specifications, cleaning schedules, pars, ordering procedures, and opening/closing checklists.
• Strong knowledge of health-code compliance, food safety, allergen protocols, and ServSafe standards.
• Experience executing both restaurant service and banquet or special-event production.
• Availability for nights, weekends, holidays, and peak university/event periods.

Leadership qualities

• Leads visibly from the kitchen, especially during difficult services.
• Sets clear expectations and consistently follows through.
• Can hold people accountable without humiliating them.
• Develops reliable cooks instead of hoarding knowledge.
• Addresses poor performance promptly and documents it appropriately.
• Does not confuse aggression with authority.
• Can inherit a complacent team, identify who can be developed, and make sound recommendations about who cannot.
• Communicates professionally with front-of-house leadership, sales, accounting, HR, and the GM.
• Accepts feedback without becoming territorial or defensive.

Preferred credentials

• Culinary degree or equivalent experience.
• Current ServSafe Manager certification.
• Hotel, resort, university, or conference-center experience.
• Banquet and high-volume production experience.
• Experience opening or repositioning a restaurant.
• Familiarity with recipe-costing, inventory, scheduling, and POS systems.
• Existing relationships with regional farms, producers, or culinary organizations.

Peachtree Group provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. We also offer a generous 401(k) retirement match. To support work-life balance, we provide Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off. Additional perks include access to our Employee Assistance Program and Fund.