Find & Apply For Chef Jobs in Auburn, California

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 to start soon. This is a rare chance to shape a kitchen from day one: 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 helpful What we offer $80,000-$90,000 annual salary, plus bonus 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 To apply: Send your resume to jwade@reneson.com with "Chef de Cuisine - Auburn" in the subject line.