Head Chef

Head Chef Grocery Retailer) 

Caribbean | Full-Time | Reports to Operations Manager

Salary Range: US$60,000 - US$80,000

The upper end is reserved for a candidate who can demonstrably drive revenue, develop new offerings, improve gross margins, and manage high-volume prepared foods across kitchen and catering.

Role Overview

Our client, a prominent grocery retailer in the Caribbean, seeks a high-caliber Head Chef to lead culinary operations across prepared foods, deli, bakery, and hot bar. This is a hands-on production role with three core priorities: food quality, waste reduction, and menu execution. The Head Chef reports to the Operations Manager, who oversees the broader department. The ideal candidate has proven high-volume kitchen experience and strong versatility across cuisines.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and execute high-quality menus for prepared foods, deli, and bakery, aligned with customer demand and sales targets.
• Maintain strict production quality and consistency across all recipes and presentation standards.
• Drive waste reduction through portion control, inventory rotation, and production planning.
• Develop new offerings and manage prepared foods across the kitchen and catering to improve gross margins.
• Lead, train, and manage kitchen and production staff, including scheduling, performance, and labor costs.
• Maintain inventory controls, vendor relationships, and food cost management to optimize profitability.
• Enforce food safety, sanitation, and compliance standards and ensure audit readiness.
• Partner with the Operations Manager on seasonal promotions, special events, and sales initiatives.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or professional certification preferred.
• 5-10 years of progressive kitchen leadership; at least 3 years in grocery retail, prepared foods, or high-volume food production.
• Proven track record in menu development, cost control, and team leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to drive revenue, develop new food offerings, and improve gross margins.
• Versatile across multiple cuisines with experience managing both kitchen and catering channels.
• Strong communicator; able to motivate and manage a diverse team in a fast-paced environment.