Executive Chef | Upscale Casual Dining

Recruiting Partner: Charles Frede

Charlotte, North Carolina | Hospitality Operations | Not Remote | $85,000 to $90,000 | Job ID: 177683

Job Summary

To Apply for this Job Click Here

Executive Chef | Upscale Casual Dining

$85,000 – $90,000 Base Salary + Bonus

Charlotte, NC

We are a rapidly growing upscale casual restaurant group seeking an experienced Executive Chef to join an established Charlotte leadership team with the opportunity to relocate into a new restaurant opening in Wilmington, NC in Spring 2027.

This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary leader who enjoys developing people, leading high-performing teams, and working in a scratch-kitchen environment. The ideal candidate is a strong restaurant operator who values consistency, coaching, food quality, and long-term career growth.

With multiple restaurants opening annually, there is a strong track record of promoting leaders from within. This role offers the opportunity to establish yourself within a successful operation before helping lead the opening of a brand-new restaurant.

What You'll Do

  • Lead all Back-of-House operations
  • Develop, coach, and mentor culinary team members
  • Maintain exceptional food quality and execution standards
  • Manage labor, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, and food costs
  • Ensure adherence to all safety, sanitation, and allergy protocols
  • Partner with restaurant leadership to drive operational excellence
  • Maintain a positive, accountable, and team-focused kitchen culture
  • Support future restaurant growth and new opening initiatives

What We're Looking For

  • 5+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience
  • Current Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or high-level Kitchen Manager experience
  • Scratch kitchen experience required
  • High-volume full-service restaurant background
  • Strong labor and food cost management experience
  • Proven success developing and retaining kitchen teams
  • Stable employment history with demonstrated career progression
  • Hands-on leadership style
  • Strong communication and organizational skills

Ideal Background

We are particularly interested in candidates from:

  • Upscale Casual Dining
  • Polished Casual Dining
  • High-Volume Scratch Kitchen Concepts
  • Chef-driven restaurant groups with strong operating systems

Successful candidates are leaders who enjoy building teams, coaching future leaders, and maintaining operational excellence.

Career Opportunity

This position is based in Charlotte, NC and is designed for a leader interested in relocating to Wilmington, NC to support a planned restaurant opening in Spring 2027. Candidates seeking long-term growth, future multi-unit opportunities, and new restaurant opening experience are highly encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

  • $85,000 – $90,000 base salary
  • Annual bonus opportunity
  • Medical benefits
  • Paid Time Off
  • Relocation assistance available
  • Structured training and leadership development
  • Future advancement opportunities within a growing organization

If you're an Executive Chef who enjoys developing people, building culture, and leading high-performing scratch kitchen teams, we would love to speak with you.

 

JOB ID: 177683

#post

Charles Frede

To Apply for this Job Click Here

Share This Job

Share This Job

Restaurant Assistant Manager – Fast Food

Omaha, Nebraska
Hospitality Operations
$42,000 to $46,000

Restaurant Manager

Austin, Texas
Hospitality Operations
$60,000 to $70,000

Assistant Manager – QSR

Missoula, Montana
Hospitality Operations
$55,000 to $65,000

Executive Chef – Commissary Kitchen

Bronx, New York
Hospitality Operations
$150,000 to $180,000

Additional Information

At Goodwin Recruiting, our clients seek qualified candidates, and that is what we deliver. A person’s age, gender, race, color, marital or family status, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity has no bearing on whether they are able to do the job. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We work hard to identify a broad slate of candidates for each of our clients, with many hiring success stories to share.

Featured Image

Charles Frede

Senior Recruiting Partner