Culinary Instructor Jobs in Charleston, SC (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking an accomplished and passionate Executive Chef to lead the culinary program of a highly regarded chef-driven, upscale coastal Italian restaurant in Charleston.

The restaurant has established a strong reputation for creative, high-quality cuisine and operates at approximately $3M–$3.5M in annual sales. This is an opportunity for a culinary leader who can maintain exceptional food quality and consistency while leading a high-volume kitchen, developing a talented team, and continuing to elevate the overall culinary program.

The current Executive Chef is expected to transition out in December, making this an important leadership opportunity for an experienced chef ready to take ownership of an established and successful operation.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership

• Lead all culinary operations and maintain the restaurant's high standards for food quality, flavor, presentation, and consistency.
• Develop and execute a creative, seasonal menu that reflects the restaurant's coastal Italian identity.
• Introduce new dishes, seasonal features, and culinary experiences while maintaining the integrity of the existing program.
• Establish recipes, preparation standards, plating specifications, and kitchen procedures.
• Ensure consistent execution across all stations during high-volume service.

Kitchen Operations

• Oversee daily BOH operations, including prep, production, line execution, and expo.
• Lead the kitchen team through high-volume services while maintaining quality and ticket-time standards.
• Establish efficient systems and procedures that improve kitchen organization and execution.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace standards.

Financial Management

• Manage food and labor costs while protecting profitability.
• Monitor purchasing, inventory, waste, and product utilization.
• Analyze food-cost performance and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Partner with restaurant leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and overall financial performance.

Team Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop a high-performing culinary team.
• Build and retain strong Sous Chef and BOH leadership.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
• Develop future culinary leaders through mentorship and hands-on coaching.
• Foster a professional, collaborative, and positive kitchen culture.

Guest Experience & Leadership

• Collaborate closely with the General Manager and front-of-house leadership.
• Maintain strong communication between FOH and BOH.
• Use guest feedback and operational data to continually improve the dining experience.
• Lead by example and remain hands-on during busy services when needed.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or senior culinary leader in a high-volume, full-service restaurant.
• Strong background in chef-driven, upscale casual, fine dining, contemporary Italian, coastal Italian, or comparable restaurant concepts.
• Demonstrated success managing a restaurant with significant annual sales volume.
• Strong scratch-cooking and menu-development experience.
• Proven ability to manage food cost, labor, purchasing, inventory, and kitchen profitability.
• Strong leadership and team-development skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable leading a fast-paced kitchen while maintaining exceptional quality and consistency.
• Culinary degree or formal culinary training preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an established culinary operator—not simply a talented chef. They should have demonstrated success leading a high-volume restaurant, developing culinary teams, managing financial performance, and maintaining elevated standards under pressure.

Candidates who can demonstrate measurable improvements in sales, food cost, labor, retention, guest satisfaction, or culinary execution will be highly valued.

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.