Executive Chef

North Italia is a renowned restaurant brand established in 2002, known for its handcrafted Italian cuisine served in a contemporary and welcoming environment. Located originally in Scottsdale, Arizona, North Italia has grown to become one of the favorite neighborhood spots for guests craving from-scratch modern Italian food. The restaurant prides itself on offering a unique in-restaurant experience that focuses on exceptional hospitality. Since joining The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated portfolio in 2019, North Italia benefits from the rich history, culture, and industry-leading practices of a company that operates over 200 casual dining restaurants across the United States. With a dedicated workforce of more than 40,000 employees, The Cheesecake Factory stands as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, known for its family-like care towards staff, community engagement, and commitment to sustainability. North Italia shares these values and is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming workplace where diversity is celebrated and every team member is valued. The company offers reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities and supports equal opportunity employment.

As an Executive Chef at North Italia, you will be a key leader responsible for managing the culinary operations with a focus on driving extraordinary guest experiences and operational excellence. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this role requires a passionate and skilled leader who can manage high-volume shifts, oversee food preparation and inventory control, and lead the kitchen team with professionalism and inspiration. The Executive Chef will demonstrate superior ingredient knowledge and stay current with culinary trends to ensure the menu remains innovative and appealing. Additionally, this role involves meticulous management of labor, food costs, and other controllable expenses to effectively contribute to the restaurant's financial goals.

The Executive Chef will lead daily decision-making regarding shift management, scheduling, and planning, while ensuring mastery over receiving and storage procedures. The ability to handle volume shifts efficiently, whether from an expo or lead kitchen position, is essential, as is the capacity to manage spontaneous requests while maintaining a calm and positive work atmosphere. Part of the role's responsibility includes fostering a culture of continuous learning, providing honest feedback, and implementing corrective action where needed. Operating the restaurant with an ownership mindset is encouraged, ensuring every decision aligns with quality and efficiency.

Candidates successful in this role tend to be passionate about creating memorable dining experiences, dedicated to maintaining high standards for product quality and restaurant cleanliness, committed to coaching and developing their team, and service-oriented in fast-paced, high-volume environments. North Italia offers a compensation range of $85,000 to $100,000 per year, which may include a base salary and geographic differential. Benefits include stock equity, company car program, comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid group life, short and long-term disability, paid time off for vacation and sick leave, health savings account options, 401k with company match, tuition assistance, eligibility for up to 50% next day pay (with exclusions), and employee assistance programs. This role requires availability to work ten-hour shifts, which include closing, weekends, and holidays. Physical requirements include the ability to stand, sit, squat or walk for extended periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and use fine motor skills for kitchen machinery and knife operation. The Executive Chef must also be able to endure changes in temperature, smoke, steam, heat, and confined spaces, while maintaining sensory abilities to ensure food quality and safety at all times.