Executive Chef (Multi-Unit Culinary Leader)

Good Company Doughnuts & Caf9 is a burgeoning culinary establishment deeply rooted in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC Area. With multiple cafe locations and a dedicated commissary operation like Tysons Bakery, this company has built a reputation for delivering artisan doughnuts and cafe fare with a commitment to quality and consistency. Renowned for their focus on culinary excellence and customer satisfaction, Good Company Doughnuts & Caf9 combines traditional craftsmanship with modern processes to create a scalable and successful business model. They operate in a fast-growing, multi-unit environment that values innovation, operational discipline, and a strong team culture. This company is dedicated to fostering a dynamic workplace that supports both employee development and operational excellence.

The role of Executive Chef (Multi-Unit Culinary Leader) is a pivotal leadership position within Good Company Doughnuts & Caf9, situated in Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area cafes. This full-time position, offering a base salary between $70,000 to $90,000 with performance-based compensation resulting in on-target earnings (OTE) of $80K to $110K, represents a unique opportunity for a seasoned culinary professional who thrives in multi-unit, high-volume production settings. This is not a traditional kitchen-bound position but rather a strategic leadership role focused on culinary execution across multiple cafes and commissary operations. The Executive Chef will own the entire food production process, ensuring top-tier food quality, consistency, cost control, team development, and menu innovation company-wide.

The successful candidate will act as the culinary standard-bearer, partnering closely with ownership and restaurant management teams to translate the company’s vision into scalable, executable systems. Duties include direct culinary leadership, overseeing food production for cafes, catering, and commissary operations, and developing robust systems and processes including SOPs, recipe standardization, and kitchen flow optimizations. The Executive Chef will be responsible for managing food costs by controlling purchasing, inventory, vendor relationships, and waste reduction, while also driving menu development that balances creativity with operational scalability. This leader will also play a critical role in hiring, training, and mentoring kitchen leaders to build a disciplined, accountable culinary culture.

Food safety and compliance are paramount, with responsibilities including exceeding health department standards, maintaining certifications, and leading audits. Success in this role means delivering a consistently excellent guest experience at every location, maintaining efficient, orderly kitchen operations with controlled costs, seamlessly opening new locations, and fostering leader development through a managed innovation process. The ideal candidate possesses 7-10+ years of culinary leadership experience in multi-unit or commissary-driven concepts, proficiency with Restaurant 365, strong food cost and labor efficiency acumen, and a ServSafe (or equivalent) certification. Leadership characteristics valued include being operator-first, standards-driven, a builder of lasting systems, an effective coach, calm under pressure, and adopting an ownership mindset.

Joining Good Company Doughnuts & Caf9 as the Executive Chef offers a competitive salary, generous benefits package including health, 401(k), and paid time off, and a growth path toward senior culinary leadership roles such as VP of Culinary or Culinary Director. This is an exciting opportunity for a culinary leader who wants to influence the growth and operational excellence of a fast-scaling, innovative culinary company. This role is the backbone of the business’s ongoing success and offers the chance to build a winning culture while ensuring top-quality food production across all units.