Culinary Field Chef

This job opportunity is with Vallarta, a prominent foodservice company known for its diverse culinary concepts including Taqueria, Tortilleria, and sit-down Restaurants. Vallarta is dedicated to delivering an exceptional guest experience by maintaining rigorous standards for food quality and consistency across all of its establishments. As a leader in the industry, the company focuses on innovation in menu development, operational excellence, and fostering a strong team culture. Vallarta operates multiple foodservice environments, making it a dynamic and challenging workplace for culinary professionals who thrive in fast-paced settings and value teamwork and operational success.

The role of Culinary Field Chef at Vallarta is an exempt, leadership position reporting directly to the Director of Culinary. The main objective of this role is to support day-to-day field culinary operations across all Vallarta foodservice programs, ensuring adherence to company standards for food preparation, presentation, and guest service. This job entails approximately 80% travel within the company’s operating regions, often involving overnight stays. The Culinary Field Chef is hands-on in the field, working intimately with Kitchen Managers and culinary teams to coach, train, and uphold operational excellence. This role is critical in executing new menu items, product rollouts, and ongoing culinary initiatives that drive sales growth and product consistency.

Key responsibilities include providing culinary and operational guidance across multiple foodservice concepts, coaching Kitchen Managers to enhance execution and guest service, ensuring recipe fidelity and portion control, and leading the training and implementation of new menu programs. Additionally, the Culinary Field Chef supports food cost control, operational reporting, and compliance with health, safety, and sanitation standards. The role also involves collaborating closely with the Corporate Chef and other cross-functional teams to support product development and menu innovation.

Operationally, the Culinary Field Chef monitors kitchen cleanliness, organization, and efficiency while assisting in new store openings and remodels. They also help with staffing, onboarding, and team development. Ensuring food quality and compliance is paramount, as the role enforces recipe adherence, food safety procedures, and conducts quality inspections. The Culinary Field Chef is responsible for delivering Vallarta’s Nuestra CASA service standards to foster top-tier customer satisfaction and quickly address any guest feedback. Leadership and team development are core functions, with an emphasis on coaching, accountability, and performance management.

Maintaining clear communication with leadership and escalating issues affecting food safety, quality, or service is crucial. The role enforces all safety protocols and proper equipment use while promoting a safe working environment. As an essential part of Vallarta’s culinary operations, the Culinary Field Chef also supports all current and future culinary programs and performs other related duties as assigned.

This position requires a seasoned culinary professional with at least five years of leadership experience in culinary, restaurant, or multi-unit operations. Candidates must have strong skills in foodservice operations, team development, recipe adherence, and cost controls. A High School Diploma is required, while a Culinary Degree is preferred. The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and travel extensively is essential. This role offers an opportunity to influence culinary excellence across a well-established and growing company with a commitment to innovation and quality.