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Head Chef Job Description

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Hiring a Head Chef is never easy, especially since this is a high-level position.

There are steps that you need to take before reaching the interview stage; one of them is creating a well-crafted Head Chef job description that will help you attract a talented and creative Head Chef.

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Head Chef Job Description Template

As OysterLink is dedicated to supporting the community, we've created a job description template that you can easily download, modify and use to attract the right candidate.

Job Overview

We are looking for a talented and experienced Head Chef to run the kitchen at [Name of Establishment].

The ideal candidate will know how to run the entire kitchen operations smoothly, from vendor relations to food inspection. Their main goal is to consistently ensure high food quality and customer satisfaction.

Salary: $70,000–$90,000 a year

Schedule: Full-time with availability during weekends and holidays

Employee Perks & Benefits:

  • Paid time off
  • 401(k) matching
  • Health insurance
  • Annual bonus

Responsibilities:

  • Plan equipment and food orders
  • Choose vendors based on quality and pricing
  • Update the menu regularly with high-quality ingredients
  • Ensure every team member applies all food and safety regulations
  • Hire, train and track team member performance
  • Stay updated on allergy and nutrition trends
  • Inspect plates before they are taken to customers
  • Ensure high-quality food is being served
  • Ensure customer satisfaction levels are high

Required Skills & Experience:

  • Previous Head Chef experience is an advantage
  • Proven experience in managing kitchen operations
  • Outstanding communication and leadership skills
  • Problem-solving skills

Education & Certification: 

  • High school diploma or GED
  • State-required food certifications or licenses
  • Degree in culinary science is an advantage.
  • Certifications from the American Culinary Federation are a plus.
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Head Chef Duties and Responsibilities

“One size fits all” might not always be the right approach when it comes to your specific establishment. If you would rather write your own instead of just copying our template, you can follow the advice we prepared on creating a unique Head Chef job description for your hiring needs.

When it comes to duties and responsibilities, each establishment has different expectations and workflows. While writing down items for this section, make sure that they are clear. Try to keep it as straightforward as possible so you don’t discourage qualified candidates from applying.

Start by determining what is the key goal that a Head Chef needs to achieve. Once you have that going, it will be easy to write down other duties that will lead to accomplishing this goal.

The main goal of a Head Chef can be running a smooth kitchen operation or increasing customer satisfaction levels.

To achieve any of these goals a Head Chef has to be able to choose vendors, create a pleasant work environment and ensure team members are satisfied. They need to consistently create high-quality dishes and ensure all team members follow the same.

While doing these activities, they also have to take care of the business side of things. So, how do they do this? They need to follow equipment and food orders, schedule preventive maintenance and stay up to date with the latest culinary trends, such as food allergies and seasonal vegetables.

Head Chef Skills and Experience

A Head Chef is a position where you probably won’t risk hiring someone unexperienced. To determine the ideal experience requirement for Head Chef candidates, take into consideration the size of your establishment, the size of the team and how well the restaurant operates.

Some establishments seek a minimum of 10 years of Head Chef experience, but we don’t recommend such an approach.

While having some experience as a Head Chef is an advantage, people progress at a different pace. Someone with three years of experience might be a better fit because of their eagerness to advance and learn.

People who are seeking to get promoted from a Sous Chef position might also be a good fit. Don’t cut the talent pool with such a trivial thing as the number of years spent in a leadership position.

Look out for ambitious and talented people, who have leadership skills and a passion for the industry.

Head Chef Education and Certifications

While a culinary arts degree is an advantage, we wouldn’t consider it an eliminatory factor. Try to see behind the candidate’s resume and find that spark that not many possess.

It goes without saying that a Head Chef must have at least a high school diploma because the position requires math skills for revenue calculations.

As for certifications, if you are not sure what to look for, check out our list of recommended Chef Certifications.

Head Chef Salary Expectations

The salary for the Head Chef position might differ from one establishment to another. But there are some recommendations every employer should follow.

For starters, the average base salary for a Head Chef in the United States is $6,136.00 a month. However, you can certainly adjust this depending on your company budget and whether or not you’ll be offering monetary incentives (e.g., bonuses) for this position.

You can find all the details and compare salary trends for different states and cities using our Head Chef Salary Guide.

Head Chef Job Description FAQs

While there is no age limitation when hiring a Head Chef, there are certain age limitations when hiring team members for a kitchen. According to the DOL, job seekers at the age of 15 can start working in kitchens but may not perform any baking activities and only limited cooking tasks.

The best way to get an understanding of the qualities and experience when hiring a Head Chef is to divide the interview questions into three categories. Include situational questions, business operation questions and questions about skills and experience.

We have covered all the Head Chef interview questions in detail.

Generally, the roles of Executive Chef and Head Chef are interchangeable. While some restaurants prefer to use the term Executive Chef, others prefer Head Chef.

Larger restaurants might decide to hire for both roles. In this instance, the Executive Chef makes the business choices pertaining to the kitchen operations, while the Head Chef typically manages the kitchen and typically reports to the Executive Chef.