What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Chef position at Stronghold Restaurant Group?
The ideal candidate is a passionate and experienced chef with a background in elevated Italian or high end Italian-American cuisine. You’re someone who thrives on excellence, leads with intention, and sees food as both craft and storytelling. At Giulietta’s, you’ll have the rare opportunity to help shape a new concept from the ground up—designing the menu, building the kitchen culture, and bringing to life a restaurant that’s soulful, elegant, and unforgettable.
Responsibilities
- Lead the creation of a distinctive and cohesive menu aligned with Giulietta’s vision and brand
- Develop and document detailed recipes and standardized kitchen procedures for consistency and quality
- Recruit, hire, and onboard a high-performing back-of-house (BOH) team
- Design and implement a structured training program to uphold culinary excellence and team performance from day one
- Lead all BOH training and ensure adherence to culinary and operational standards
- Oversee daily kitchen operations with a focus on quality, efficiency, and cleanliness
- Collaborate with ownership on sourcing, menu development, kitchen layout, and pre-opening planning
- Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency across all service periods
- Ensure full kitchen operational readiness by January 1st
- Uphold and champion a culture of excellence, accountability, and respect in the kitchen
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in an Executive Chef or comparable leadership role in high-end, full-service restaurants
- Proven expertise in Italian and/or Italian-American cuisine
- Strong culinary philosophy grounded in authenticity, technique, and seasonal ingredients
- Experience developing recipes, systems, and workflows for new openings
- Demonstrated ability to build, train, and lead high-performing teams
- Deep understanding of kitchen operations, food costing, vendor relationships, and sanitation standards
- High emotional intelligence, leadership presence, and ability to inspire trust and respect
- Comfortable working closely with ownership and other department leaders in a collaborative environment
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail—nothing is too small to get right
- A genuine love for food, hospitality, and building something meaningful from the ground up
Preferred Qualifications
- Formal culinary training or degree from a recognized institution
- Experience opening new restaurants or launching new concepts
- Working knowledge of back-of-house software, inventory systems, and compliance standards