Executive Chef / BOH Leader
Executive Chef – Back-of-House Leader
Bender’s Tavern | Canton, Ohio
Bender’s Tavern is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to guide the next stage of our culinary operation.
We are looking for a high-integrity leader who can protect and consistently execute Bender’s classic menu, develop the kitchen team, control food and labor costs, and build systems that allow the BOH to operate successfully. If you are looking for an exciting career with a company preparing to celebrate 125 years of excellence and focused on family, culture, and innovation in the hospitality industry, we invite you to apply. Total pay package $90K–$125K, including health benefits. In addition, there is a bonus program + IRA match +2 weeks paid vacation. If relocation assistance is needed, that can be discussed.
This is an opportunity for a chef-operator who combines strong culinary leadership with operational discipline. The right candidate will combine strong culinary fundamentals with leadership, financial awareness, recruiting ability, and disciplined execution.
What You Will Own
The Executive Chef will be accountable for:
- Leading, managing, and developing the entire BOH team
- Recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining talented culinary employees
- Building relationships with culinary schools and attracting emerging culinary professionals
- Consistently executing Bender’s established recipes, standards, and classic menu
- Maintaining high standards for seafood, beef, food quality, presentation, sanitation, and safety
- Reviewing and improving recipes, kitchen stations, prep systems, and standard operating procedures
- Managing BOH schedules and productivity to achieve established labor-cost targets
- Managing purchasing, inventory, waste, and food cost
- Communicating product and ingredient needs effectively with vendor partners
- Developing future BOH leaders and creating a professional learning environment
- Leading BOH meetings, scorecards, priorities, and accountability through EOS (No EOS experience required, although a background in management systems preferred)
- Representing Bender’s professionally in the dining room and within the community
Culinary Creativity Within an Established Brand
Bender’s has an established identity and classic menu that must be protected and executed consistently.
The Executive Chef will also have appropriate creative opportunities through:
- Daily and weekly specials
- Private dining events
- Wine dinners
- Banquets
- Off-premise events
- Seasonal menu features
- Special culinary experiences
We are looking for someone who respects tradition while identifying thoughtful ways to improve quality, efficiency, and the guest experience.
What We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong culinary techniques, fundamentals, and food-safety knowledge
- Experience in a professional culinary environment
- Culinary education or comparable professional kitchen experience
- A passion for purchasing, preparing, and serving high-quality seafood and beef
- Strong leadership and team-development skills
- Experience developing supervisors and future kitchen leaders
- Proven ability to recruit, train, and retain culinary talent
- Financial and technical understanding of restaurant operations
- Experience managing food cost, labor cost, inventory, purchasing, and productivity
- The ability to analyze and improve recipes, stations, workflows, and SOPs
- Clear and professional communication with employees, ownership, FOH leaders, and vendors
- High integrity, accountability, professionalism, and a continuous-improvement mindset
- Comfort working within an EOS environment or willingness to learn and follow EOS disciplines
How Success Will Be Measured
Success in this position will include:
- Consistent food quality and execution
- BOH labor maintained within established targets
- Food cost maintained within established targets
- Reliable recipe and portion compliance
- Improved employee training and retention
- Strong staffing and recruiting pipelines
- Effective inventory and purchasing controls
- A clean, organized, safe, and professional kitchen
- Development of dependable BOH leaders
- Reduced daily ownership involvement in kitchen operations
- Strong collaboration between the BOH, FOH, and leadership team
About Bender’s Tavern
Bender’s Tavern is a historic, 4th generation family-owned restaurant known for high-quality seafood, steaks, hospitality, and personalized service. We are building a professional leadership team that respects our legacy while continuously improving our systems, culture, and guest experience.
Apply
Qualified candidates should submit a résumé and a brief introduction describing:
- Their leadership experience
- Their approach to food and labor-cost management
- Their experience recruiting and developing kitchen employees
- Why they are interested in leading the BOH at Bender’s Tavern
Pay: $80,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Food provided
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- 1. What food-cost percentage were you responsible for, and what result did you achieve?
- 2. What labor percentage or labor budget were you responsible for?
- 3. Are you comfortable leading within an established menu and recipe system?
- 4. How much Seafood experience do yo have?
- 5. How do you hold Sous Chefs, Kitchen Managers, and hourly cooks accountable without creating unnecessary drama?
- Qualified candidates should submit a résumé and a brief introduction describing:
Their leadership experience
Their approach to food and labor-cost management
Their experience recruiting and developing kitchen employees
Why they are interested in leading the BOH at Bender’s Tavern
If you do not live in the Canton, Ohio area-please share why this move is what you are looking for. Thank You!
Work Location: In person
