Resident Chef (Sur La Table)

Sur La Table is a prominent specialty retailer in the United States, renowned for its extensive collection of premium-quality kitchen and tableware products alongside an exceptional avocational cooking program, the largest of its kind in the country. With over 58 stores nationwide, Sur La Table offers customers exclusive goods that elevate the cooking and dining experience. The company’s mission revolves around fostering happiness by inspiring culinary creativity and encouraging the joy of sharing good food. Sur La Table is celebrated not only for its diverse product selection but also for the culinary expertise and educational experiences it offers to customers across all its locations. Whether it involves interacting with customers directly, supporting digital growth, or managing behind-the-scenes operations, the company thrives on a culture of teamwork, passion for food, and outstanding customer service.

The position of Resident Chef at Sur La Table plays a critical leadership role within the store, directly contributing to both culinary education and business success. This role requires a seasoned culinary professional who can combine passion for cooking with strong business acumen and teaching abilities. As the leader of high-performing culinary teams, the Resident Chef is responsible for organizing and leading engaging cooking classes that enhance customer experience and drive sales. This position is pivotal in representing Sur La Table’s brand and culture, fostering an enthusiastic team environment dedicated to delivering excellence in service standards known as #bestincenter.

The Resident Chef oversees the in-store culinary program, ensuring every cooking class session is expertly executed according to recipe standards and optimal customer engagement techniques. They support recruitment, mentorship, and retention of team members while holding regular performance evaluations and facilitating professional development plans. By cultivating a guest-obsessed culture both in culinary and retail environments, the Resident Chef ensures customer satisfaction and loyalty are maintained through positive experiences and responsive feedback management.

In addition to leadership and customer experience focus, the Resident Chef actively drives business outcomes through strategic sales initiatives. They analyze key performance indicators regularly to optimize store performance and consistently meet culinary and retail sales goals. These metrics include second-class sign-ups, retail product sales, customer conversion rates, and customer satisfaction scores from Google reviews and other channels. The role also encompasses operational responsibilities such as ensuring food safety compliance, managing inventory and culinary expenses, maintaining store cleanliness and safety, and adhering to all company policies.

Physical demands and flexibility are notable aspects of the role, with expectations for standing and moving throughout the store, operating kitchen tools safely, and working nights, weekends, and holidays to fulfill class schedules. The Resident Chef must be able to handle environments involving open flames, hot surfaces, and various food allergens while maintaining professional standards and a positive attitude. Sur La Table values diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity, promoting a respectful workplace for all employees and applicants. The company also embraces modern hiring practices with transparent use of artificial intelligence tools to aid recruitment while ensuring human scrutiny in final hiring decisions. This role offers an exciting opportunity for culinary professionals eager to blend leadership, education, and retail expertise within an innovative and customer-focused environment.