Culinary Chef & Head Pitmaster

Sonny's BBQ is an iconic barbecue restaurant chain renowned for its authentic slow-smoked barbecue, warm hospitality, and commitment to bringing people together around great food. With decades of experience perfecting their craft, Sonny's BBQ has become a beloved regional brand that celebrates the rich traditions and flavors of Southern barbecue while embracing innovation to stay relevant in a competitive culinary landscape. Their dedication to quality and community has helped them build a strong reputation and loyal customer base throughout the region. Sonny's BBQ values authenticity, creativity, and excellence, making it a premium destination for barbecue enthusiasts and food lovers alike.

The role of Culinary Chef & Head Pitmaster at Sonny's BBQ is a prestigious opportunity to lead the culinary vision of this beloved brand. This position goes beyond the traditional chef responsibilities and focuses on shaping the future of barbecue cuisine within the company. The successful candidate will be tasked with driving menu innovation, elevating pitmaster standards, and serving as a culinary ambassador for Sonny's BBQ at events, media appearances, and partnerships. As the Head Pitmaster, you'll establish and uphold national standards for barbecue excellence, develop training and certification programs for pitmasters, and ensure consistency in smoking techniques, rubs, sauces, and meat quality throughout the system.

In this multifaceted role, you'll collaborate across departments including Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Training to bring culinary ideas to life and support product innovation and menu rollouts. You'll play an essential role in culinary testing, recipe development, food safety compliance, and operational documentation. This position demands a blend of exceptional creativity and operational discipline, requiring the candidate to balance innovative menu development with scalable processes that maintain exceptional food quality across all Sonny's BBQ locations.

The chef & Head Pitmaster will also be the face of Sonny's culinary brand, representing the company in culinary competitions and media engagements while collaborating with Marketing and PR teams to create compelling content that tells the story of Sonny's heritage, craft, and culture. This is a unique leadership position that combines culinary artistry, operational expertise, brand management, and public representation. It offers an exciting chance to leave a lasting mark on a well-established BBQ brand while helping to define the next generation of barbecue classics.

If you have over eight years of culinary experience, a deep knowledge of barbecue techniques, and a passion for coaching and mentoring culinary talent, Sonny's BBQ invites you to apply and become a vital part of their team. This role provides the opportunity to work in diverse environments—from test kitchens to media stages—while fostering innovation, excellence, and community spirit in every dish served. Join Sonny's BBQ and help write the next chapter of great barbecue history.