Chef de Cuisine

About this position

Chef de Cuisine | New Restaurant Opening | Auburn, CA
$80,000–$90,000 per year, plus bonus | Full-time | Exempt

Build something new from the ground up.

We’re opening a new chef-driven restaurant in Auburn in Spring 2027, and we’re looking for our opening Chef de Cuisine to start soon. This is a rare chance to shape a kitchen from day one: the menu, the team, the systems, and the culture.

The concept is built around artisan pizza from a hearth-style deck oven, seasonal cooking, and warm, genuine hospitality, plus on- and off-site catering and events. You’ll be the General Manager’s culinary partner and the hands-on leader of the kitchen.

What you’ll do

• Lead the opening: hire, train, and build the back-of-house team
• Develop and execute seasonal menus, recipes, and holiday specials with the General Manager
• Lead hands-on during service, including running expo, keeping tickets moving, and holding every plate to standard
• Create the kitchen’s systems: station pars, prep standards, opening and closing procedures, and training programs
• Own food cost and labor: weekly inventory, purchasing, actual vs. theoretical food cost, and P&L performance
• Direct the culinary side of catering and events
• Build a calm, respectful, accountable kitchen where people want to work and grow

What you bring

• 4+ years of progressive culinary leadership in a high-quality, high-volume restaurant
• Previous experience as Sous Chef, Executive Sous Chef, Executive Chef, Catering Chef, or equivalent
• Experience with commercial deck or hearth-style pizza ovens, artisan pizza, and dough fermentation
• Catering and banquet planning, production, and execution experience
• Strong knowledge of seasonal sourcing, recipe development, and food and labor cost management
• A leadership style built on teaching, coaching, and respect
• Current food safety certification (ServSafe Manager or equivalent)
• Valid California driver’s license with a clean driving record and insurance
• Experience with Toast, 7shifts, and Craftable is a plus
• A culinary or business degree is preferred; equivalent experience is accepted
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs
• Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays, with extended hours during opening and peak periods
• Bilingual in spanish helpful

What we offer

• $80,000–$90,000 annual salary, plus bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, and company-paid life insurance, 401k with matching
• The chance to put your stamp on a brand-new restaurant
• Support from an established Northern California hospitality company

To apply: Send your resume to jwade@reneson.com with “Chef de Cuisine – Auburn” in the subject line.

Location and commute

Auburn, CA .

Plan your route with Google Maps. Travel times and transportation options vary; confirm the work location with the employer before commuting.

How to apply

Review the vacancy and complete the application on the employer or recruitment partner’s website. Requisition ID: WJ-3247717431.