A Chef oversees food preparation and directs other cooks and kitchen staff. Plans menus, develops recipes, orders ingredients and supplies. May supervise kitchen operations in a restaurant or work for a private household; may work for an executive office or a client that entertains regularly.
Ladybug Hospitality is seeking an experienced culinary and/or front-of-house consultant to help elevate the food, service, training, and overall guest experience across our restaurant group. We operate multiple concepts throughout coastal North Carolina and South Carolina, ranging from upscale Italian dining and steakhouses to coastal and chef-driven concepts. As we continue to grow and refine our brands, we are looking for an accomplished hospitality professional who can bring an outside perspective, advanced training, and proven experience operating at a highly elevated level. We are especially interested in candidates with experience in Michelin-recognized restaurants, James Beard Award-recognized establishments, luxury hospitality, or comparable fine-dining environments. This may be a fit for an experienced Executive Chef, Culinary Director, General Manager, Director of Operations, Service Director, or restaurant consultant who enjoys developing teams and helping restaurants move to the next level. Areas of Focus The consultant may work with both our culinary and front-of-house teams, depending on experience and expertise.
Responsibilities may include:
Evaluating current culinary and service operations Menu development, refinement, plating, and presentation Improving consistency and execution in the kitchen Developing chefs and culinary leadership Reviewing kitchen systems, prep procedures, and operational flow Establishing elevated service standards Fine-dining and luxury hospitality training Server, bartender, host, busser, and support-team development Table service, coursing, wine service, guest engagement, and attention to detail Training managers on floor presence and service leadership Improving communication between front and back of house Reviewing guest feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement Helping create memorable, polished guest experiences Advising leadership on standards associated with Michelin-level and James Beard-recognized restaurants Assisting with the opening and continued development of upcoming concepts Ideal Candidate We would love to speak with professionals who have one or more of the following: Leadership experience in a Michelin-starred, Michelin-recommended, or Michelin-level restaurant Experience with a James Beard Award winner, finalist, semifinalist, or recognized restaurant Executive Chef or Culinary Director experience in elevated restaurants General Manager, Service Director, or Director of Operations experience in fine dining Luxury hotel or resort food-and-beverage experience Experience opening or repositioning upscale restaurants Strong knowledge of hospitality training and service standards Proven ability to mentor chefs, managers, and service teams Italian culinary experience is highly desirable Strong understanding of wine and beverage service is a plus Consulting Structure This is a consulting / contract opportunity , not necessarily a traditional full-time position.
We are open to:
Short-term consulting engagements Multi-day onsite evaluations Ongoing monthly consulting Training intensives Restaurant-opening support Culinary-only consulting Front-of-house/service consulting A consultant or consulting team capable of assisting with both Travel accommodations may be provided for the right candidate. Compensation is competitive and will be based on experience, scope of work, and length of engagement. About Ladybug Hospitality Ladybug Hospitality is a growing multi-concept restaurant group serving the coastal Carolinas. Our goal is not simply to operate successful restaurants — we want to continually improve our culinary programs, hospitality standards, leadership teams, and guest experiences. We are looking for someone who can challenge us, teach us, and help our teams continue to grow. To Apply Please submit your résumé along with a brief introduction outlining your experience with Michelin-level, James Beard-recognized, luxury, or fine-dining operations.
Please also include:
Restaurants or hospitality groups you have worked with Your primary area of expertise: Culinary, Front of House, or Both Consulting experience, if applicable Availability for travel to coastal North Carolina Preferred consulting structure and compensation expectations
