Executive Chef
About The Position
For more than 130 years and four generations, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. has handcrafted the world's finest cigars in the heart of Tampa's historic Ybor City. Our factory, El Reloj, is the last operating hand-rolled cigar factory in the United States-a living landmark where more than 25,000 guests from around the world visit each year to experience Tampa's cigar heritage. In late 2026, we will open three new hospitality experiences inside a beautifully restored 1910 building across the street from El Reloj: Elaine's, a classic American restaurant with continental and local influences serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Stanford's Cigar Club, a premium cigar lounge with barrel-aged spirits and an exclusive cigar program; and The Inn at El Reloj, an eleven-room boutique hotel. Together, they form the El Reloj District-a hospitality destination unlike anything else in Tampa. We are seeking an Executive Chef to build and lead the culinary program across the property from the ground up. This is an exceptional opportunity to define the culinary identity of a brand-new operation-developing the menus, assembling the team, establishing the standards, and shaping the culture from day one-within one of Tampa's most significant historic properties.
Requirements
- Minimum of five years of culinary leadership experience in upscale, fine dining, or boutique hotel environments
- A demonstrated record of building or significantly elevating a culinary program
- Experience managing food and beverage operations across multiple meal periods and service formats
- Experience with catering, private dining, and large-scale event operations
- Proven ability to recruit, train, develop, and retain high-performing teams
- Strong financial acumen-experience managing budgets, food costs, and P&L performance
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-departmental communication skills
- Proficiency in English required; Spanish fluency preferred
Responsibilities
- Define and execute the culinary identity and menu concepts for the restaurant, inn, and private event programs
- Build, train, and lead the kitchen team from the ground up, fostering a culture of excellence, professionalism, and continuous development
- Oversee daily kitchen operations across a fully equipped facility with dedicated restaurant, event, and prep lines
- Uphold the highest standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency across all meal periods and venues
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations
- Manage purchasing, vendor relationships, inventory, and food cost controls to drive profitability
- Collaborate closely with the General Manager and service team to maintain seamless front-of-house and heart-of-house alignment as one unified operation
- Partner with ownership and management on seasonal menus, special programming, and event Execution
- Oversee inn amenities, including daily breakfast service and complimentary food and beverage offerings
Benefits
- Full medical, vision, and dental insurance
- 401(k) savings plan with company match
- Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
- Company-sponsored long-term disability
- Paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
