Company description

Lead by James Beard award-winning chef Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen opened in 2007 with a question: What is the best way to feed ourselves? Today, Woodberry hosts bespoke 40-120 person private events, featuring the menus written based on the best ingredients grown from regenerative farmers in the Mid-Atlantic. Woodberry Tavern is open four nights and one brunch, along with Artifact Coffee, open 7 days.

Job description

Woodberry Kitchen is looking for an experienced chef to manage Woodberry's Private Event Kitchen operations. 

The right person will be an ambassador of our approach to food and beverage, hospitality, and business. As a key member of the management team, you will be asked to lead with professionalism and empathy.

The role includes managing the daily culinary operations of the event kitchen, maintaining high standards around production processes and food quality. This is a unique role that works with the best ingredients grown in the Mid-Atlantic at scale and interacts daily with local growers. This role also includes recruiting and staffing the Back of House with a diverse, high-caliber team, maintaining a high standard of guest enjoyment, managing client tastings, staff education, managing costs to a budget, maintaining our spaces, and seeking constant business improvement. This role works closely with Chef/Owner Spike Gjerde and Executive Chef Steven Kenny.

Responsibilities:
-Oversee daily Events operations including managing event kitchen prep, cleanliness, and in-service management of kitchen
-Manage service for events ranging from 40-150 guests, including passed or plated appetizers, family style main courses, stationary or plated dessert, after dinner snacks; Woodberry hosts beautiful weddings, business parties, and other kinds of events
-Review BEOs, build prep lists according to specs, ensure kitchen readiness
-Work with Executive Chef to staff the kitchen, managing staff readiness, daily performance management, and training new and seasoned cooks
-Maintain kitchen spaces including walk-in organization, tools, and dry storage. Build and enforce strong organization systems and culture of care for tools and spaces.
-Maintain profitability by managing food and labor costs to a budget, and minimize kitchen wastage
-Participate in weekly manager meetings, bring fully thought out ideas and solutions, present on results, and develop a constant running dialogue with management team
-Support the Event Sales process & Events Director with client tastings, and client relations as needed

Qualifications:
-3+ years in fine dining or private events culinary management
-Experience working with high quality ingredients
-Strong communication and interpersonal skills
-Ability to multitask, accept direction and feedback, work independently and collaboratively
-Ability to lead a team with clarity, fairness, and empathy
-Professional demeanor with guests
-High school diploma or equivalent, bachelor's degree or culinary degree preferred

Why Work at Woodberry Kitchen:

Make an Impact. Help reimagine how restaurants can engage with our food system, supporting thriving small farms that contribute to clean air, water, climate action, and a more resilient planet.

Grow Professionally. Join a learning environment with opportunities to expand your knowledge of food, farming, and the environment.

Work with the Best Ingredients. Make delicious, healthy local food from the highest quality ingredients grown in our region.

Join a Community. Work alongside hospitality professionals and engage with a larger community of farmers and makers.

Woodberry Kitchen & Artifact Coffee do not accept cover letters, resumes, or any other application materials written with the assistance of AI tools. 

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k-75k

Application instructions

Deadline

April 30, 2025