About Us
Ava's Hospitality Group operates Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar and Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits across Maryland and Delaware. We believe in treating every employee with respect, every guest as if they are a guest in our home, and every dollar as if it were our own.
The Opportunity
We're seeking a hands-on culinary leader to oversee all kitchen operations at our Delaware locations and lead the growing Ava's Catering Program. This role goes beyond managing kitchens; you'll establish and protect our culinary culture, develop the next generation of kitchen leaders, and ensure every guest experiences the quality and consistency that defines Ava's Hospitality Group. You'll lead from the front, working alongside your teams during service, coaching in real time.
What You'll Do
- Lead by example. Model the highest standards of food quality, sanitation, organization, and professionalism, and set the pace for urgency, accountability, and hospitality
- Develop people. Train, coach, and mentor Kitchen Managers, Sous Chefs, and kitchen teams; build leaders, not just managers
- Drive culinary excellence. Ensure consistent recipes, presentation, and execution across all Delaware locations; lead menu rollouts, seasonal features, and innovation; keep kitchens inspection-ready every day
- Own the numbers. Manage food cost, labor cost, inventory, purchasing, and waste; teach Kitchen Managers how operational decisions impact profitability
- Grow our catering program. Oversee culinary execution, menu development, production scheduling, and logistics for Ava's Catering throughout Delaware while protecting daily restaurant operations
What We're Looking For
- Proven senior kitchen leadership experience (Executive Chef, Culinary Director, or similar)
- A track record of developing engaged teams
- Strong command of food and labor cost management, purchasing, and vendor relations
- Catering or high-volume event production experience strongly preferred
- ServSafe certification and deep knowledge of food safety and health department standards
- Flexibility to work a leadership schedule including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and catering events
Pay: $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
