Head Chef

About Us

The Haven Café is a family-oriented, community-driven café serving high-quality breakfast and lunch. We are growing! Thanks to our expanding business, we are increasing our kitchen capacity and opening up another wave of hiring. We are seeking a hard-working, dependable, and inspiring Head Chef who wants to take ownership of our kitchen operations and grow right along with us.

Position Overview

This is a full-time leadership role designed for a seasoned culinary professional who is ready to step up, lead by example, and run an efficient back-of-house operation. The ideal candidate doesn't just show up ready to cook—they move with urgency, uphold high standards, foster strong teamwork, and care deeply about consistency, cleanliness, and kitchen morale.

Key Responsibilities

• Kitchen Leadership: Take ownership of the kitchen; lead, motivate, and manage the back-of-house team to ensure smooth, high-energy service hours.
• Culinary Execution: Prepare and cook breakfast and lunch menu items to exact standards, ensuring impeccable food quality, taste, and presentation.
• Operations & Standards: Maintain a meticulously clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen in strict compliance with food safety and sanitation guidelines.
• Inventory & Quality Control: Manage daily kitchen prep, portion control, and waste management to ensure consistent quality and efficiency.
• Collaboration: Partner closely with front-of-house management to streamline service and maintain a positive, cohesive "family-style" working environment.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Proven Experience: Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in a professional kitchen, preferably in a supervisory or leadership role (Lead Line Cook, Sous Chef, or Head Chef).
• Leadership Mindset: Strong, reliable work ethic with the ability to manage, train, and inspire a small team under pressure.
• High Efficiency: Ability to thrive and move with urgency in a fast-paced breakfast/brunch environment.
• Technical Skill: Exceptional attention to detail with sharp plating skills and an eye for consistency.
• Commitment: Must be available to work full-time hours across the required Wednesday–Sunday shift schedule.

This Role Is a Perfect Fit If You:

• Are a natural leader looking for stability, creative ownership, and long-term career growth.
• Take immense pride in hard work, strong reliability, and showing up consistently.
• Respect structure, systems, and strict culinary standards.
• Value a collaborative, respectful, and family-style team culture.

Job Type: Full-time