What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Chef – Italian Restaurant position at Goodwin Recruiting?
Executive Chef – Italian Restaurant
Fort Lauderdale, FL
An upscale Italian restaurant opening within a full-service hotel is seeking an Executive Chef to lead its culinary team. We are looking for a hands-on chef with strong Italian cuisine experience, a passion for developing people, and the operational skills to deliver exceptional food while managing costs and consistency.
Benefits
- Great salary
- Fantastic company culture
- Growth and development opportunities
- Benefits / 401k
Executive Chef – Italian Restaurant Requirements/Qualifications
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive culinary leadership experience in upscale or fine dining restaurants.
- At least 2 years of experience as a Chef de Cuisine or Executive Chef in a scratch cooking restaurant.
- Strong knowledge of regional Italian cuisine and classic culinary techniques.
- Extensive experience with handmade pasta, sauces, premium steaks, seafood, and high-temperature grill cooking.
- Proven ability to recruit, train, develop, and motivate a culinary team.
- Strong financial and administrative skills, including food costing, budgeting, inventory, payroll, and scheduling.
- Ability to execute high-volume service while maintaining food quality, presentation, and consistency.
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification.
- Proficiency with computers and strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Flexibility to work weekends and holidays.
Executive Chef – Italian Restaurant Preferred Background & Skills
- Italian steakhouse experience, including premium steak preparation and dry-aging programs.
- Restaurant opening experience.
- Hands-on leadership style that builds teamwork, accountability, and pride in the kitchen.
- Ability to develop daily features and recipes that honor the restaurant’s culinary identity.
- Strong purchasing and production controls, with attention to product quality, yields, waste, and profitability.
- Ability to balance kitchen leadership with administrative responsibilities and deadlines.
- Collaborative approach to working with restaurant management, F&B leadership, and stewarding.
- Commitment to kitchen cleanliness, food safety, and an exceptional guest experience.
- Culinary degree or college education preferred.
Jason Weaver
Salary : $110,000