We are seeking an exceptional Chef de Cuisine with elevated, high-volume restaurant experience to lead the award-winning Drift In. Working closely with nationally-acclaimed culinary director, Kerry Heffernan, the Chef de Cuisine participates in all aspects of kitchen oversight and management.

Drift In is a vibrant outdoor restaurant in the West Village overlooking the Hudson River. With two distinct waterfront seating areas, Drift In features easy-going beach fare, craft cocktails, summery wines, crisp beers, and epic sunsets.

Reports to: Corporate Executive Chef

As the Chef De Cuisine, the cornerstone of our kitchen operations, you will embody leadership, set an exemplary standard, and adeptly solve any challenges that arise. Your primary focus will be to meticulously execute the existing menu in strict accordance with its specifications ensuring the seamless daily operations of our acclaimed kitchen and back-of-house team. Responsible for executing menus meticulously crafted by our Executive Chef Team and adapting them as needed for seasonal variations, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining our culinary excellence. Your duties will encompass overseeing the hiring of the entire back of house team, creating schedules, ensuring compliance with Department of Health regulations, providing ongoing training to kitchen staff, and managing inventory to meet financial targets. Your leadership will drive our renowned food program to even greater heights, while your strategic oversight of costs will contribute to our continued success.

• Accountable for providing comprehensive leadership, and management to all kitchen staff and operations, ensuring professionalism and adherence to Company policies, procedures, and standards taking ownership of decisions and their outcomes that affect staff, costs, and service quality.
• Maintain a professional zero-tolerance stance towards policy and compliance adherence, while fostering high morale and motivation within the team
• Responsible for hiring, properly onboarding, and of all kitchen personnel, including subordinate sous chefs and hourly kitchen staff in line with staffing requirements and staffing pars
• Complete daily reports and checklists as required
• Conducting comprehensive training sessions for both managerial and subordinate staff in accordance with company training protocols. Guaranteeing that all team members are adequately trained to fulfill their job duties in alignment with Crew standards.
• Conduct Daily DOH walk-throughs with communication to FOH management. Enforcing sanitary practices and policies for food handling and overall cleanliness ensuring Department of Health compliance; address all DOH violations immediately.
• Manage the schedule for all hourly back of house employees utilizing company approved technology in line with labor budgets, staffing pars and cost goals. Effectively communicate with upper management and staff alike to adjust schedule in line with unforeseen circumstances such as weather.
• Mastering menu item knowledge and strictly adhering to recipe specifications in our company database, ensuring the execution of all menu items meet company standards regarding quality and consistency
• Consistently monitoring manager feedback logs on a daily basis to promptly identify and address any food-related concerns, including consistency, quality, service speed, operational efficiency, communication between back-of-house (BOH) and front-of-house (FOH), and staff behavior.
• Maintain adherence to Department of Health food service standards consistently with a zero tolerance policy, A letter grade
• Set a high standard through personal example and ensure the team meets Crew excellence standards in cleanliness and food safety, maintaining a pristine and professional kitchen environment at all times including peak service. Uphold proper food preparation and handling techniques, while strictly adhering to safety protocols.
• Set a leading example and strictly enforce the Company uniform policy and policies on impeccable personal appearance, and upholding high standards of hygiene.
• Responsible for supervising and managing the maintenance, cleanliness, and organization of the kitchen and its associated areas. Implementing and ensuring adherence to deep cleaning schedules and equipment cleaning.
• Conducting precise weekly inventory assessments as scheduled, and effectively leveraging relevant technology for optimal accuracy.
• Cultivating professional rapport with vendor contacts and consistently placing weekly orders through approved vendors in adherence with company protocols
• Overseeing receiving procedures to ensure meticulous handling and storage of food items
• Conduct weekly meetings with the corporate and events teams to review upcoming events, discuss processes, analyze profit and loss statements, and address other business-related matters

Tier 1

• 3 years + of successful experience in a Chef de Cuisine or comparable role overseeing annual food sales revenue of $3 million or more
• Experience leading a team of 30 personnel or more
• Demonstrated experience executing high volume, elevated cuisines in a professional atmosphere
• Demonstrated experience directing subordinate managers to maintain quality and service levels in your absence
• Culinary degree or equivalent certification in culinary arts
• Strong knife handling and safety protocols and skills
• Ability to walk, stand, and/or bend continuously and for extended periods of time as required to perform essential job functions
• Able to lift 30+ lbs.
• Able to work nights, weekends and holidays, and variable schedule, per the needs of the business

Tier 2

• 1 year + of successful experience in a Kitchen Management role overseeing annual food sales revenue of $2 million or more
• experience of leading a team of 15 personnel or more.
• Demonstrated experience executing high volume, elevated cuisines in a professional atmosphere
• Demonstrated experience directing subordinate managers to maintain quality and service levels in your absence
• Strong knife handling and safety protocols and skills
• Ability to walk, stand, and/or bend continuously and for extended periods of time as required to perform essential job functions
• Able to lift 30+ lbs.
• Able to work nights, weekends and holidays, and variable schedule, per the needs of the business

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the functions of this job, an employee must walk, stand, or remain stationary during entire the shift. Employee must be able to continuously reach, bend, lift, carry, stoop and wipe with the potential for slipping or tripping. Employee must frequently wash their hands and lift or move up to 35 pounds.

We were raised in the hospitality industry and have come to believe that the highest calling is treating people well, making them feel at home, and communing over good food and drinks. It brings us all together. 

We believe everyone should work in an environment where they are well compensated, culturally enriched, and treated with respect. Across the spectrum of our workforce, our employees take home industry leading income.

Drift In is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.