Head Chef

The Harrison Group, Inc. • Ocean City, MD

4h

About The Position

The Head Chef of Harbor Watch is responsible for leading all culinary operations of the restaurant, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and creativity with a strong emphasis on Atlantic coastal cuisine. This position plays a central role in shaping the guest experience by developing seasonal seafood-driven menus, maintaining operational excellence, and leading a high-performing kitchen team.

The Head Chef collaborates closely with the General Manager, Restaurant Managers, Front of House leadership, and other culinary leaders within the Harrison Group portfolio. This role provides direct leadership to all kitchen staff and ensures alignment between menu development, cost management, staffing, training, and guest satisfaction.

The Head Chef maintains a daily leadership presence in production and service, ensuring standards are consistently executed in a high-volume, seasonal waterfront environment.

Requirements

• Minimum of five years of progressive culinary leadership experience, preferably in a high-volume hotel, resort, or multi-outlet environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in Atlantic coastal cuisine, seafood preparation, and seasonal menu development.
• Experience with menu development, food costing, and labor management.
• Previous experience supervising and developing kitchen teams in fast-paced operations.
• Strong culinary technique with a passion for coastal atlantic flavors.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills with the ability to coach and motivate staff.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities, capable of handling multiple outlets simultaneously.
• Proficient in inventory systems, recipe costing, and kitchen management tools.
• Excellent communication skills, able to collaborate effectively with F&B leadership and front-of-house teams.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Ability to remain calm and effective in high-pressure service environments.
• Commitment to safety, sanitation, and food quality standards.

Nice To Haves

• Culinary degree from an accredited institution preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all culinary operations at Harbor Watch, ensuring excellence in preparation, presentation, and execution.
• Design, test, and implement seasonal menus centered on Atlantic coastal cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh seafood, regional sourcing, and coastal-inspired flavors.
• Maintain a consistent daily presence in the kitchen to supervise service, support staff, and ensure operational flow.
• Manage food cost, labor cost, inventory, and procurement to meet financial targets and company standards.
• Recruit, train, develop, and evaluate culinary staff, fostering a professional, respectful, and performance-driven kitchen culture.
• Ensure compliance with all local and state food safety regulations and maintain strict adherence to sanitation and HACCP standards.
• Partner with Food & Beverage leadership to align culinary offerings with marketing initiatives, seasonal promotions, and overall guest experience objectives.
• Develop and maintain standardized recipes, prep lists, production schedules, and plating guides.
• Oversee vendor relationships, with a focus on sourcing high-quality seafood and regional ingredients while negotiating favorable pricing.
• Support special events, large party dining, and seasonal volume fluctuations with appropriate staffing and menu planning.
• Monitor equipment functionality and coordinate maintenance to ensure a safe and efficient kitchen environment.
• Protect organizational value by ensuring compliance with company policies and promoting a culture of accountability and teamwork.
• Perform additional culinary and administrative duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 401k (after a measurement period)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Performance bonus opportunity up to 15%
• Beyond base pay and incentives, a variety of additional benefits significantly increase the overall value of your total compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed