Head Chef Craft Pub

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH

Head Chef - Craft Pub & Kitchen

Established Multi-Concept Hospitality Group | Toronto, Ontario

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Compensation: $70,000 - $80,000 per year + bonus, incentives & benefits

Reports To: Ownership / Senior Leadership Team

Conducted By: Mafra Talents - Confidential Client

Our client is a well-established and growing Toronto-based hospitality group operating a diverse portfolio of close to ten distinct restaurant concepts across the city and Greater Toronto Area, spanning lively Irish pubs, premium casual dining rooms, and chef-driven concepts, complemented by a busy private events and catering operation.

This search is for one of the group's flagship, high-volume pub locations known for its energy, its loyal local following, and its commitment to quality, guest-driven pub fare. With continued growth plans across the portfolio and an evolving regional culinary leadership structure, the group is now seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at this location.

The identity of our client and the exact location will be shared with shortlisted candidates. This search is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a driven, hands-on culinary leader to take full ownership of a high-volume, high-profile pub kitchen within a well-established and expanding hospitality group. You will set the standard for food quality, consistency, and guest experience at this location, while building and mentoring a kitchen team that shares your pride and pace.

Beyond day-to-day leadership of this kitchen, ownership has identified this role as a potential platform for future growth. As the group's culinary leadership structure evolves toward a Regional Executive Chef / Director of Culinary Operations model overseeing multiple concepts, the right Head Chef will be well positioned to grow alongside it. This is a role for a chef who thinks beyond one kitchen, someone ready to build a strong track record here as the foundation for broader, multi-unit culinary leadership over time.

Culinary Leadership & Menu

•    Lead all culinary operations at the location, setting and enforcing standards for quality, consistency, and presentation.

•    Develop and evolve a menu of elevated pub classics, seasonal specials, and guest favourites that balance authenticity, craft, and commercial appeal.

•    Maintain rigorous kitchen standards, recipes, and operating procedures consistent with group-wide expectations.

•    Support menu development for private events, group dining, and catering.

•    Partner closely with the General Manager and ownership to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

Operations & Financial Performance

•    Own food cost, purchasing, inventory, and waste management for the location.

•    Analyze sales mix and menu performance to identify opportunities for improved profitability.

•    Manage kitchen labour, scheduling, and productivity against budget.

•    Apply technology and AI tools where useful to streamline costing, forecasting, scheduling, and reporting.

•    Conduct regular self-audits to ensure compliance with company culinary and operational standards.

Team Leadership & Development

•    Recruit, train, coach, and retain a high-performing kitchen brigade.

•    Build a culture of accountability, cleanliness, organization, and continuous improvement.

•    Communicate clearly and consistently with management, kitchen, and front-of-house teams.

•    Mentor emerging kitchen leaders and contribute to succession planning as the group's culinary leadership structure grows.

Health, Safety & Compliance

•    Ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health regulations at all times.

•    Maintain rigorous standards of workplace safety and lead corrective action plans where required.

•    5+ years of hands-on experience as a Head Chef, or senior Sous Chef in high-volume restaurant or pub environments.

•    Strong command of elevated pub, casual dining, or gastropub-style cuisine.

•    Solid understa