Head Chef

Company Overview

Welcome to Burlington's ultimate dining destination – a sleek and modern steakhouse and raw bar with distinctive Asian culinary influences. Nestled in the vibrant heart of Burlington, Ontario, at Prime Steak + Raw Bar you will embark on a one-of-a-kind culinary journey, with every dish part of a meticulously crafted story. We are one of the proud recipients of Open Table's diners' choice award for best overall and best food in all of Halton region for the past 3 years. Prime Steak + Raw bar is part of B Social Hospitality with 8 unique restaurant concepts in Burlington and Hamilton.

Role Purpose

The Head Chef at Prime Steak + Raw Bar is the culinary leader responsible for delivering an exceptional, luxury dining experience at one of the region's most acclaimed restaurants.

Prime is defined by premium ingredients, refined creativity, technical precision, and uncompromising execution. This role demands excellence in food, leadership, discipline, and presentation. The kitchen is open and highly visible, regularly experienced by guests, influencers, media, and industry professionals. The Head Chef must combine elite technical skill with polish, composure, and confidence. The Head Chef reports directly to the General Manager, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Executive Chef

Core Responsibilities

1. Culinary Leadership & Execution Excellence

• Lead all BOH operations at Prime with precision, discipline, and pride
• Ensure every dish meets the highest standards of flavor, texture, temperature, presentation, and consistency
• Maintain flawless execution during all services, including peak periods
• Set and enforce uncompromising standards through leadership and accountability
• Uphold Prime's reputation as a destination for premium steak and sushi

2. Creative Contribution & Menu Evolution

• Proactively propose creative features, specials, and refinements
• Continuously evaluate existing dishes and suggest improvements
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and ownership on seasonal features, new dish development, plating evolution, premium ingredient applications
• Ensure creativity aligns with Prime's luxury positioning: refined, intentional, and technically sound

3. Advanced Technical Expertise

The Head Chef must demonstrate mastery in one or more of:

• Premium steak programs – butchery and precision cooking of premium cuts
• Sushi & Japanese-influenced cuisine - Fish breakdown for sushi and sashimi and understanding of Japanese balance, restraint, and technique
• Raw bar & luxury ingredients - Oyster sourcing, handling, and presentation, caviar service and care, high-end seafood sourcing and preparation

4. Plating, Presentation & Open-Kitchen Presence

• Execute plating that is refined, precise, and visually striking
• Maintain consistency of presentation across all services
• Present with confidence and professionalism in an open-kitchen environment
• Interact appropriately and comfortably with guests, influencers, media, and industry professionals
• Represent Prime with polish, credibility, and pride

5. Labour Management & Cost Control

• Own BOH labour performance at Prime in partnership with the General Manager
• Build schedules that align with approved labour models, sales volume, and service standards
• Manage staffing levels to ensure no compromise in execution and that labour costs remain within targets
• Coach Sous Chef and leads on labour efficiency and productivity
• Actively monitor performance and adjust staffing strategies as required

6. Food Cost, Inventory & Premium Sourcing Execution

• Own food cost performance at Prime while protecting product integrity
• Execute ordering in line with approved suppliers, products, and par levels
• Maintain tight control over premium ingredients to minimize waste
• Ensure strict adherence to portioning and yield standards
• Provide feedback to the Executive Chef on product quality and sourcing

7. Equipment, Maintenance & Kitchen Readiness

• Ensure all kitchen equipment is properly maintained, clean, safe, and fully operational at all times
• Proactively identify maintenance issues and escalate repairs through approved processes
• Work with the General Manager to schedule preventative maintenance
• Ensure equipment setup supports speed, quality, and safety
• Maintain an always-ready kitchen capable of executing at Prime's standard

8. Team Leadership, Training & Culture

• Hire, train, and develop a high-performing BOH team
• Establish a culture of excellence, accountability, cleanliness, continuous improvement
• Develop Sous Chef and senior cooks into future leaders
• Ensure all BOH staff fully understand and execute Prime's standards

9. Cleanliness, Compliance & Food Safety

• Maintain an immaculate, inspection-ready kitchen at all times
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health, and regulatory requirements
• Lead health inspections and internal audits with confidence
• Ensure all BOH certifications are current and enforced

Experience Requirements

• 7–10 years of progressive culinary experience
• Prior experience as a Head Chef in a premium or fine-dining restaurant
• Preferred expertise in one or more of:
• Premium steak programs and butchery
• Sushi and Japanese or Asian-influenced cuisine
• Raw bar and luxury ingredients

Skills & Competencies

Culinary & Technical

• Advanced butchery skills (beef, seafood, sushi-grade fish)
• Exceptional plating and presentation skills
• Deep understanding of premium ingredient handling
• Strong food safety and quality control discipline

Operational & Financial

• Proven ability to manage BOH labour costs without compromising standards
• Strong food cost, inventory, and waste control experience
• Ability to execute at volume while maintaining luxury-level quality

Leadership & Presence

• Calm, confident, and professional in an open-kitchen setting
• Strong leadership presence with high standards and accountability
• Comfortable interacting with guests, influencers, media, and ownership

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Extended health and dental benefits after 3 months of employment
• 3 weeks paid vacation per year
• Dining privileges across the restaurant group

Schedule & Work Expectations

• Location: Prime Steak + Raw Bar — Burlington, Ontario
• Full-time, salaried leadership position
• Evenings, weekends, and holidays required based on service needs
• Highly visible, hands-on leadership role in an open-kitchen environment
• Expected to lead from the pass and be present during peak services

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $65,000.00-$80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Discounted or free food
• Extended health care
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Application question(s):

• 1. Do you have hands on experience with premium steak, sushi, or other highly skilled fine dining cuisine?
• 1. Do you have experience managing BOH labour and food cost accountability?
• 1. Are you comfortable working in an open-kitchen, guest-facing environment?
• 1. Are you available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required?
• Describe a time when you refused to compromise on food quality or execution, even when it created operational or staffing pressure. What did you do?

Experience:

• Head Chef: 2 years (required)
• Culinary: 7 years (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Work Location: In person