Executive Chef of Spirits & Tales

Pittsburgh, PA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life insurance

short-term disability

long-term disability

401(k) program with company match

Tuition Assistance

Discounted hotel room rates

Training and development opportunities

Career advancement opportunities

Job Description

Spirits & Tales is a distinguished rooftop dining destination perched on the 10th floor of The Oaklander Hotel, offering an elevated culinary experience paired with handcrafted cocktails and magnificent views overlooking Pittsburgh's vibrant Oakland neighborhood. This modern brasserie is celebrated for its hyperlocal ingredients, seasonal menus, and a unique sense of place that draws both locals and visitors alike. The establishment prides itself on blending innovative cuisine with an inviting atmosphere, making it one of Pittsburgh's premier dining venues. With a commitment to quality and guest satisfaction, Spirits & Tales continually seeks to redefine dining excellence while honoring its roots with fresh, creative approaches to food and beverage.

The role of Executive Chef at Spirits & Tales is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity designed for a visionary culinary professional. This Executive Chef will be tasked with spearheading a full culinary relaunch of the restaurant, reinventing menus, elevating the dining concept, and enhancing banquet offerings to secure the restaurant’s position as a top culinary destination in Pittsburgh. This includes responsibility for all culinary operations within the restaurant, in-room dining services, and banquet/catering functions for The Oaklander Hotel.

The perfect candidate will be a hands-on leader with a strong creative vision and a sharp business acumen. They will lead with integrity, transparency, and professionalism, inspiring culinary teams to reach their full potential and delivering exceptional guest experiences. This chef-leader will focus on operational excellence, cost control, talent development, and innovative menu creation. The Executive Chef will drive the creation of seasonal, trend-forward dishes aligned with the elevated identity of Spirits & Tales, and collaborate closely with beverage leadership to enhance food and cocktail pairing experiences.

Key responsibilities also include overseeing all banquet culinary execution for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and VIP experiences, ensuring flawless delivery from intimate dinners to large-scale functions. Additionally, the Executive Chef will develop profitable banquet menus, manage food and labor costs, maintain sanitation and safety compliance, and build a culture of teamwork and respect within the kitchen. This role offers the opportunity to impact the community’s dining landscape significantly while working within the supportive and growth-oriented environment fostered by Concord Hospitality.

Concord Hospitality, renowned for its "Associate First" culture, invests deeply in workforce development and values diversity, work-life balance, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service. As part of Concord's growing portfolio, this role offers career advancement potential and the chance to work within a company rooted in quality, integrity, community, profitability, and fun. The Executive Chef position at Spirits & Tales is a full-time opportunity with competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package, ideal for a culinary leader eager to make their mark and build a lasting legacy in the hospitality industry.

Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts or related field preferred
Minimum 5 years of experience in executive culinary leadership roles
Demonstrated experience in banquet and catering management
Strong leadership and team-building abilities
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage budgets, control costs, and maximize profitability
Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and health regulations
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

Job Qualifications

5+ years of Executive Chef or Senior Sous Chef leadership in upscale dining, lifestyle hotel, or high-volume restaurant environments
Proven success opening, relaunching, or repositioning restaurant concepts
Strong banquet/catering production experience
Excellent leadership, coaching, and people-development skills
Strong financial acumen including food cost, labor management, and forecasting
Passion for hospitality, innovation, and guest experience
Culinary degree preferred but not required with equivalent experience

Job Duties

Lead the complete redesign and relaunch of all restaurant menus and culinary concepts
Develop seasonal, trend-forward offerings that align with the elevated identity of Spirits & Tales
Create signature dishes that drive destination dining and repeat local business
Partner with beverage leadership on food and cocktail pairing experiences
Maintain consistent quality, presentation, and execution standards
Oversee all banquet culinary execution for weddings, corporate functions, social events, and VIP experiences
Design profitable banquet menus and customizable event packages
Ensure seamless execution of events ranging from intimate dinners to large-scale functions
Collaborate closely with sales, convention services, and hotel leadership
Recruit, train, mentor, and inspire kitchen leaders and line-level culinary talent
Build a culture of accountability, creativity, urgency, and respect
Manage scheduling, labor productivity, coaching, and succession planning
Establish strong communication between front and back of house teams
Manage food cost, labor cost, purchasing, and inventory controls
Build systems that maximize profitability without sacrificing quality
Ensure sanitation, safety, and regulatory compliance at all times
Analyze trends, guest feedback, and P&L performance to improve results