Executive Chef

Turks Head Wines is seeking a driven, strategic, and highly creative Executive Chef to lead our wine-forward culinary program. This is a rare opportunity to take full ownership of a kitchen and menu built around an exceptional California wine portfolio, with the support of an ownership team that values both creativity and financial discipline.

As Executive Chef, you will:

• Architect and own a menu designed to pair seamlessly with our wines, creating thoughtful, memorable food & wine experiences.
• Take the lead on cost management – from food cost and margins to inventory controls and vendor relationships.
• Flex your creative wings with the freedom to experiment, iterate, and truly make the menu your own, while keeping an eye on profitability.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team that cares about consistency, learning, and hospitality as much as you do.

This role is ideal for a chef who thinks like an operator: someone who loves the creative side of cooking but is equally motivated by hitting cost targets, improving systems, and seeing strong P&L performance.

Menu Development & Wine Pairing

• Develop and maintain a seasonal, wine-driven menu that complements and enhances our wine program.
• Collaborate with ownership and the wine team to create pairings, tasting menus, and specials that highlight our Bordeaux-style wines.
• Analyze menu performance regularly, engineering offerings for both guest impact and profitability.

Cost Management & Operations

• Own food cost targets, recipe costing, portioning, and inventory systems.
• Implement and maintain standardized recipes and prep systems to ensure consistency and cost control.
• Manage vendor relationships, negotiate pricing, and source ingredients that balance quality with financial goals.
• Track and report key metrics (food cost %, waste, labor-to-revenue relationships in the kitchen) and adjust operations as needed.

Leadership & Team Development

• Hire, train, and lead the kitchen team, building a culture of accountability, hospitality, and continuous improvement.
• Create an educational environment focused on wine & food pairing, technique, and professional growth.
• Set and enforce kitchen standards for quality, speed, communication, and collaboration with FOH.

Kitchen Management & Compliance

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations, including prep, service, and execution for both regular service and events.
• Ensure all health, safety, and sanitation standards are followed in line with ServSafe guidelines.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen that supports both creativity and consistency.

• 5+ years in a leadership role (Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or strong Sous Chef ready to step up) in an upscale or fine dining environment.
• Proven experience in food cost management, inventory systems, and menu engineering.
• Strong understanding of wine and food pairing, or a genuine eagerness to learn at a high level.
• Demonstrated ability to build, train, and retain a high-performing kitchen team.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment with a strong attention to detail.
• Familiarity with food safety regulations; ServSafe Manager certification preferred (or willingness to complete).
• Passion for hospitality, education, and delivering a unique wine & culinary experience.

Compensation: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 annual salary

Benefits & Perks:

• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off + Holidays Off
• 401k (after 1 year of employment)
• Discounts on wine & merchandise
• Professional development opportunities
• Ongoing wine education alongside our team

Turks Head Wines is a California-based winery producing and bottling Bordeaux-style wines in the North Coast region before bringing them to our Tasting Room & Wine Lounge in West Chester, PA. Our mission is to deliver unforgettable experiences built around thoughtful wine and food pairings.

Our culinary program is intentionally wine-forward: the menu is crafted to showcase the wines first, guiding guests on a pairing journey rather than following a traditional restaurant model. As Executive Chef, you'll be at the center of that experience—balancing creativity, seasonality, cost management, and education to create something truly unique.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities that may be required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.