Culinary Field Chef

Vallarta is a dynamic and rapidly growing foodservice company known for its authentic culinary offerings across various concepts including Taqueria, Tortilleria, and full-service restaurants. The company prides itself on delivering a high-quality guest experience backed by consistent product standards and operational excellence. As a leader in the industry, Vallarta emphasizes team development, operational efficiency, and innovation in menu and service execution. With a strong commitment to maintaining exceptional food safety, quality, and customer satisfaction, Vallarta continues to expand its footprint and culinary influence across multiple locations.

The role of Culinary Field Chef at Vallarta is an exempt, full-time position reporting to the Director of Culinary. A significant portion of this role, approximately 80%, involves hands-on fieldwork across various locations, providing direct support to Kitchen Managers and foodservice teams. The Culinary Field Chef is instrumental in ensuring that Vallarta's culinary standards are consistently met and exceeded. This position requires a seasoned professional with at least five years of experience in culinary or multi-unit restaurant operations leadership, offering strong expertise in foodservice procedures, training, and team management.

Key responsibilities include coaching and mentoring culinary personnel, driving recipe adherence and food quality consistency, and leading operational improvements to enhance cost management, efficiency, and guest satisfaction. The Culinary Field Chef also serves as a vital connector between the field operations and corporate culinary teams, facilitating new menu rollouts, product development initiatives, and company-wide culinary programs. This role demands an individual with a strong background in managing kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.

Beyond operational duties, the Culinary Field Chef plays a pivotal role in new store openings and remodel projects, providing training and ensuring seamless integration of culinary standards. Maintaining HACCP compliance and rigorous food safety standards is a critical aspect of the role, alongside continuous monitoring of food storage, temperature control, and preparation practices. The role also emphasizes customer service excellence by embodying Vallarta's Nuestra CASA service principles, addressing guest feedback, and supporting high levels of customer satisfaction.

Given the extensive travel involved, flexibility and adaptability are essential qualities. The position requires frequent travel within the company's operational regions, including overnight stays, to provide real-time support and oversight. Mileage reimbursement is offered for approved business travel. Overall, the Culinary Field Chef is a cornerstone of Vallarta's commitment to culinary excellence, operational consistency, and superior guest experiences, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and success in a competitive marketplace.