loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
Head Chef and Kitchen Manager at Local Organic Prepared Meals Service (scotts valley)
Golden Roots Kitchen
compensation:
$75k-$85k based on experience
employment type:
full-time
experience level:
senior level
job title:
Head Chef/Kitchen Manager
QR Code Link to This Post
Are you an experienced Chef dedicated to cooking whole foods that nourish your community? Are you passionate about building relationships with farmers, working with exceptional ingredients, and leading a kitchen that values integrity, teamwork, and sustainability?
Golden Roots Kitchen is seeking a Head Chef to lead our culinary program and kitchen team. This role is ideal for a chef who thrives in both creative and operational leadership — someone who is excited to develop seasonal menus, maintain exceptional quality standards, and help guide a growing mission-driven food company.
If you care about the integrity of your ingredients as much as the final dish, we’d love to meet you.
Who We Are
Golden Roots Kitchen is a prepared-meal service focused on providing our clients with the highest quality, most flavorful food possible. Our service is membership-based and we take our responsibility to nourish individuals and families seriously.
Each week we curate a rotating menu of organic, gluten-free, highly flavorful meals prepared with local produce and pasture-raised proteins whenever possible. We cook from scratch with intention and prioritize ingredients that support the health of both our clients and our local food system.
We are grateful to live in a community that prioritizes the environment, and we take our role in its protection seriously. We choose compostable or reusable packaging and have developed systems to reduce waste wherever possible. We prioritize relationships with local farms and partner with suppliers who share our commitment to organic and regenerative agriculture.
Check out what we’ve been up to on Instagram @goldenrootskitchen or at www.goldenrootskitchen.com.
Responsibilities
The Head Chef leads the culinary vision and kitchen operations at Golden Roots Kitchen. This role oversees weekly menu development, food production, kitchen systems, and staff leadership while maintaining the highest standards of food quality and consistency.
Responsibilities include:
Leading the culinary team and fostering a supportive, positive kitchen culture
Developing and executing weekly rotating menus using seasonal, organic ingredients
Maintaining strong relationships with local farms and ingredient suppliers
Overseeing recipe development, testing, and documentation
Managing production planning and high-volume meal execution
Overseeing purchasing, inventory management, and food cost control
Ensuring consistent food quality, portioning, and presentation
Maintaining rigorous food safety and sanitation standards
Collaborating with leadership on systems, scaling production, and improving operational efficiency
Supporting training, mentorship, and growth of kitchen staff
This is a leadership position for a chef who enjoys both creative cooking and operational excellence.
Required Skills
7+ years culinary experience
3+ years in a senior kitchen leadership role (Head Chef, Executive Chef, or equivalent)
Strong experience with high-volume production cooking
Purchasing and inventory management experience required
Experience with recipe scaling and production systems preferred
Strong organizational and computer skills
Passion for seasonal menu development and whole-foods cooking
ServSafe Manager Certification required
Excellent communication and leadership skills
Ability to foster a culture of responsibility, teamwork, and growth
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Availability
Weekend availability required
Working schedule is five days per week
Typical schedule will fall between Thursday–Monday, depending on operational needs.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation: $75k-$85k based on experience
Benefits include:
Subsidized health insurance options
401(k) with employer match
$150 weekly food credit toward Golden Roots Kitchen meals
Paid time off- Two weeks in alignment with GRK Holiday closure
Opportunity to grow with a mission-driven company focused on food quality, sustainability, and community health
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.