Head Chef

About Us Kat's Kitchen is a neighborhood cafe and wine bar in Berkeley, located in the former Rick & Ann's space and continuing its tradition of genuine hospitality. With breakfast, lunch, and a relaxed afternoon wine program, it focuses on seasonal cooking, thoughtful preparation, and everyday ease, creating a place guests can rely on and return to often. Overview Kat's Kitchen is looking for a Head Chef to collaborate with new ownership to evolve its legacy. The Head Chef represents Kat's with the highest levels of hospitality, professionalism, and sanitation safety. This position will assist the Owner with the running and management of the restaurant kitchen, pantry retail, and catering programs and must be comfortable working under pressure, executing a range of daily tasks, and ensuring the kitchen produces exemplary food while simultaneously fostering a healthy, happy work environment. . What You'll Do Develop and lead a culinary program that reflects our establishment's ethos, ensuring every dish embodies quality, creativity, and taste. Recruit, train, and mentor kitchen staff, overseeing their onboarding process and ongoing development to maintain a high level of culinary expertise. Uphold the standards of hospitality and professionalism in the kitchen, leading by example to inspire and motivate the team. Manage kitchen operations, including opening and closing procedures, to guarantee a smooth flow of service and adherence to hygiene standards. Develop and oversee a small pantry retail program of housemade goods, maintaining quality, consistency, and thoughtful presentation. Collaborate with ownership to build and execute a catering program, including menu development, operational systems, and event execution. Ensure compliance with local regulations and industry standards, demonstrating respect for our community and fostering a positive reputation. Continuously seek opportunities to elevate the experience, whether through menu innovation or special catering events. Collaborate with fellow management and ownership to handle HR functions such as scheduling and payroll processing. Implement strategies to maximize profitability while prioritizing quality and community engagement. Manage daily kitchen workflow, including staff scheduling, service quality, and budget adherence. Monitor kitchen expenses and maintain a balanced P&L, promptly addressing any financial discrepancies or opportunities. Stay informed about the financial health of the operation, adapting strategies as needed to meet objectives. Foster team growth and development to support both short and long-term goals. Develop effective communication channels to enhance guest satisfaction and service efficiency. Collaborate with management to establish and achieve annual and quarterly business objectives. Fulfill any other duties as assigned by ownership, contributing to the overall success of the establishment. Who You Are A 'lead from the front," hands-on leader. Your sense of ownership helps you identify pain points in operations steps to fill voids and build infrastructure for future success and stability. Your emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills enable you to build strong working relationships with team members and stakeholders at all levels. You're a team player who can set your ego aside and find win-for-all solutions. You easily connect with others. Feels energized by creating a fun place where people connect and have a good time. Highly trained - you can effortlessly show others how to serve in an unpretentious yet high-quality food & beverage environment. A resourceful, self-motivated leader who's comfortable navigating ambiguity and carving a new path. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities High emotional maturity & ability to connect with others. Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills to strive in a team environment. Excellent hands-on organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong supervisory and leadership skills. Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees. Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate. Basics of G Suite & scheduling software. Education and Experience High School Diploma or equivalent At least three (3) years of Head Chef or Kitchen Management experience required. Opening experience is a plus. Health & Safety Solid understanding of professional kitchen standards and expectations. Ability to follow recipes, techniques, and quality requirements precisely. Strong attention to detail and consistency. Ability to remain calm, focused, and professional under pressure. Commitment to cleanliness, organization, and food safety. Must have or obtain a California Food Handler's Certification. Work Environment Involves standing and walking the entire shift Involves holding objects with hands Involves reaching, bending, and stooping frequently Involves lifting, moving, and carrying at least 25-50 pounds with frequency throughout the shift

EOE:

Kat's Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on any characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.