With over 58 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table โ and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, weโre all here for the same reason โ to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food.ย
Position Overview
As a Resident Chef at Sur La Table, you play a key role in the success of the store by leading high-performing culinary teams that inspire customers throughout every stage of their culinary experience.ย This position leads engaging cooking classes, fostering an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team and overseeing the success of the in-store culinary program. This role requires a blend of culinary talent, business acumen, and teaching skills to drive sales, enhance customer #bestincenter experience, a company-wide standard for excellence in service, and build a high-performing culinary team.
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Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Recruit, mentor and retain a high-performing team to meet the business needs of both culinary and retail.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations and uphold a positive team culture.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide feedback, and create development plans to support individual and team growth.
Customer Experience & Brand Representation
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Represent Sur La Tableโs brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ensures an outstanding cooking class experience in every session by following provided recipes and game plans while holding employees accountable for quality and execution.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Work with store leadership to increase foot traffic and store engagement through cooking classes and private events.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Maintains expertise by staying current on products, actively engaging in available training, and independently seeking out additional resources.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ensure exceptional customer experience by leading a customer-focused, Guest Obsessed culture in both the kitchen and retail sales floor.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Oversees, addresses, and takes responsibility for all customer feedback related to the culinary program to maintain satisfaction and loyalty.
Sales & Business Performance
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Drive sales growth by developing and implementing strategies to enhance the culinary and retail business.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Analyze key performance metrics daily and leverage insights to optimize store performance.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Consistently meet or exceed culinary and retail goals by delivering exceptional classes and customer experiences that drive engagement and sales. Performance is measured by key KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail product sales, individual sales volume, average transaction value, customer conversion rates, and guest feedback through Google reviews.
Operations & Compliance
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Manage daily store operations while ensuring compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย May handle liquor, wine, and beer in compliance with state and location alcohol regulations, company policies, including enforcing age restrictions.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ensure store safety and cleanliness, addressing any maintenance needs promptly.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Maintains the accuracy and integrity of employee records, including but not limited to time and attendance data, food safety certifications, and personal information.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws.ย Accurately records time worked according to SLT Policy.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Models and ensures all Sur La Table policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are communicated effectively to associates, maintained and consistently followed.
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Physical Requirements
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to remain standing for up to 5 hours at a time.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to move about the store coaching and directing associates and/or class participants while selling to customers.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย The capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise from stockroom or sales floor.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice and/or demonstrate other techniques.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Workweeks are expected to be between 46 and 48 hours with the ability to have a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand, ensuring 6-8 classes are taught per week.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ability to work in a variable kitchen environment included but not limited to open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, various food allergens both physical and airborne.
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Qualifications & Experience
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employment.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Culinary degree strongly preferred. We will only consider equivalent experience in exceptional cases.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย 1-2 yearsโ experience as a culinary instructor.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3-4 years of progressively responsible kitchen management experience.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Valid Food Manager Certification.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Proven track record of achieving sales and motivating high performing sales teams while meeting operational goals.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high performing team.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems preferred.
This job description represents a summary of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Sur La Table has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
Theย CSCย family of brandsย provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state or local laws.ย ย
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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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Washington state applicants only: If you believe that this job posting does notย comply withย applicable Washington state law, pleaseย notify usย by sending an email toย WACandidates@cscshared.com.ย
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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie-detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.ย
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Theย CSC family of brands is committed to providing reasonableย accommodationsย for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance orย an accommodationย due to a disability, please contactย hrbenefits@cscshared.com.ย ย
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.