Head Chef

JOB TITLE: Head Chef

REPORTS TO: Taproom Manager

FLSA POSITION TYPE: Full-time, exempt

POSITION SUMMARY: Urban Smash is Urban South Brewery’s in-house food concept, operating from an 8x16 food trailer on-site. We're seeking a Head Chef to lead kitchen operations—overseeing food production, purchasing, sanitation, safety, and staff management. The primary concept is smash burgers and fries, with room to expand the menu to reflect the brewery’s creative, community-driven vibe.

The Head Chef will also be responsible for seasonal crawfish boils and fulfilling catering orders in coordination with the Private Events Manager. This role is essential to ensuring both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, while staying within budget.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Champion Urban South’s mission, vision, core values, and culture.
• Lead daily kitchen operations to maintain high-quality food and timely service.
• Hire, train, and manage kitchen staff, fostering a positive and professional work environment.
• Monitor and support staff performance to meet kitchen standards and goals.
• Uphold high standards of cleanliness, sanitation, and safety in compliance with health regulations.
• Develop and evolve menu offerings in alignment with customer preferences and brand identity.
• Manage food and labor costs; forecast needs and order supplies accordingly.
• Handle high-volume production in a fast-paced environment.
• Execute catering orders and seasonal crawfish boils.
• Collaborate with the Taproom and Events teams to resolve customer issues professionally.
• Stay informed on Urban South’s product offerings to enhance customer interactions.
• Represent the Urban South brand within the local community.
• Perform administrative duties and other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• ServSafe certification required.
• Proven supervisory experience in a kitchen or culinary environment.
• Able to lift 40 lbs frequently, and up to 70 lbs occasionally.
• Flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
• Strong under pressure—able to stay composed and objective in high-stress situations.
• Skilled in anticipating, identifying, and solving operational problems.
• Able to analyze and adjust to complex information and constraints.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

IMPORTANT SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Proactive: Always looking to improve the taproom experience.
• Personable: Friendly and welcoming to both staff and guests.
• Solution-Oriented: Optimistic and effective in resolving challenges.
• Creative: Eager to bring new ideas to the table.
• Organized: Exceptionally detail-oriented with strong time management.
• Communicative: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Accountable: Honest, reliable, and takes ownership of responsibilities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Shift:

• Day shift
• Evening shift

Application Question(s):

• Introduce yourself to our hiring team and tell us why you'd make the best choice for our Head Chef position at Urban Smash.

Experience:

• Kitchen: 5 years (Required)
• Kitchen management: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person