Executive Chef | $110K to $120K | Philadelphia

Lead an established high-volume Philadelphia restaurant with up to $110,000-$120,000 compensation potential, free parking, an active private event business, and an experienced kitchen team already in place.

Walnut Street Café is seeking a hands-on Executive Chef or strong Executive Sous Chef who can lead daily kitchen operations, maintain consistency during active service, and support execution across both restaurant dining and private events.

Compensation
• Estimated total compensation potential: $110,000-$120,000 annually
• $80,000-$90,000 base salary
• Additional incentive equal to 0.5% of event bookings
• Paid on regular company payroll schedule

Benefits
• Medical benefits
• Paid time off
• Paid sick days
• Bonus pay
• Free parking

Schedule
• Full-time
• Approximately 45–50 hours per week
• 5-day workweek
• Day, evening, weekend, and holiday availability required
• Scheduling flexibility needed during busy event periods and peak service times

About the Role

This is a hands-on kitchen leadership role inside a polished, high-volume restaurant with a strong private dining and event business.

Success in this position comes from leading consistently during active service, supporting the kitchen team, maintaining organized systems, and delivering strong execution across both restaurant and event operations.

We are looking for a chef who values professionalism, communication, team leadership, food quality, and operational consistency, while continually strengthening kitchen organization and execution standards.

About the Restaurant

Walnut Street Café is a polished, high-volume University City restaurant known for consistent execution, professional service standards, and a strong mix of daily dining and private events.

The kitchen supports both restaurant service and event production, requiring a chef who can move between structured daily operations and higher-volume event execution without losing organization or consistency.

This is an established operation with existing infrastructure, an experienced team, and the opportunity for the right chef to make a meaningful impact on kitchen leadership, systems, and long-term operational performance.

Responsibilities
• Lead daily BOH operations during prep, production, and service
• Maintain food quality, consistency, and execution standards
• Support and develop the existing kitchen team
• Lead hands-on during active service periods
• Oversee ordering, inventory, receiving, and vendor relationships
• Manage scheduling, labor control, and payroll coordination
• Support private dining and event execution alongside daily service
• Train, coach, and develop hourly kitchen staff
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and kitchen organization
• Control food cost, waste, prep systems, and pars
• Communicate professionally with ownership, management, FOH, and BOH teams
• Support operational improvements and menu execution

Qualifications
• 5+ years of progressive kitchen leadership experience preferred
• Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or senior sous chef experience strongly preferred
• Experience in polished casual, upscale casual, hotel, event-driven, or high-volume restaurant environments preferred
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Experience managing both restaurant and event production
• Ability to lead calmly and effectively during busy service
• Strong organizational and cost-control skills
• Ability to maintain systems, structure, and execution standards
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work active kitchen shifts
• English required
• Spanish proficiency is a plus

Ideal Candidate Traits
• Hands-on leadership style
• Reliable and accountable
• Organized under pressure
• Strong operational awareness
• Consistent communicator
• Adaptable during busy service
• Comfortable balancing structured systems with fast-paced operations

How to Apply

Please submit your resume with full contact information and three professional references. Supervisor email addresses are required. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.

Job Code: 1670

Pay: $110,000.00 - $112,000.00 per year

Benefits:
• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person