COMMON GROUND KAUAI
Executive Chef
Kīlauea, Kauaʻi · Full-Time · On-Property
About Common Ground Kauaʻi
Common Ground is a farm-centered hospitality company and destination on Kauaʻi’s north shore where a working farm, intentional gathering spaces, and place-based storytelling come together. Hospitality, for us, is an extension of mālama ʻāina—care for the land— every plate we serve is an invitation into that relationship.
We are a rapidly growing, values-led company. Over the next several years we will significantly expand our food and beverage program, culminating in the opening of a flagship fine-dining restaurant in mid-2028 that we believe will help redefine the Kauaʻi food scene.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an Executive Chef to lead the culinary vision of Common Ground today and to become the founding chef of our forthcoming fine-dining restaurant when it opens in mid-2028. This is a rare, career-defining role: the chance to shape culinary programming from the ground up at a hospitality company on a meaningful growth trajectory, build deep working relationships with our farm team and the island’s producers, and ultimately step into the kitchen of a destination restaurant that has been designed with you in mind.
What You’ll DoLead Culinary Programming Today
- Own the culinary vision and execution across all current Common Ground food and beverage experiences—private events, gatherings, experiences and on-property dining.
- Design seasonal, ingredient-driven menus that change with what the farm is growing and what the island’s waters, farms and ranches are providing.
- Set and uphold standards for food quality, plating, hospitality, food safety, sanitation, and kitchen culture.
- Manage food cost, labor, COGS, and culinary capital planning in partnership with the Director of F&B and CEO.
Champion a Locally Sourced, Regenerative Ethos
- Partner daily with our farm team—walking the fields, collaborating on crop rotations alongside menu development, and reducing the distance between harvest and plate.
- Build and deepen sourcing relationships with Kauaʻi’s fishers, ranchers, taro growers, and small farms.
- Make decisions that reflect our commitment to the island: minimizing imports, honoring Hawaiian foodways, designing for low waste, and treating sourcing as a long-term relationship rather than a transaction.
Build the Restaurant of 2028
- Co-create the culinary concept, narrative, menu architecture, and operating model for our forthcoming fine-dining restaurant in close partnership with the CEO and Director of F&B.
- Inform kitchen design, equipment selection, and back-of-house operations during construction.
- Recruit, hire, and develop the opening culinary team—sous chefs, pastry leadership, line cooks, stewards.
- Lead a thoughtful soft-opening and launch playbook so that the restaurant opens at full Common Ground caliber on day one.
Develop People and Culture
- Build a kitchen culture rooted in respect, learning, and pride of craft—one that high-performing chefs want to be part of for the long term.
- Mentor sous chefs and line leadership; create clear development pathways for kitchen staff.
- Represent Common Ground in the broader culinary community—through partnerships, guest chef programming, press, and storytelling.
Who You Are
Above all, you align with our values. Skill can be sharpened; alignment is foundational. We are looking for a chef who is:
- Deeply committed to local and regenerative sourcing. You see provenance as inseparable from craft, and you would rather build a menu around what arrived this morning than around what is convenient.
- A steward of place. You arrive on Kauaʻi to listen first—to the land, to Hawaiian foodways, to the people already doing this work—and you build from there.
- A people-first leader. You believe a great kitchen is built on a great team, and you lead with clarity, calm, and care.
- An entrepreneurial builder. You are energized by the prospect of shaping something new rather than inheriting something finished.
- A storyteller through food. You can articulate why a dish exists—where it came from, who grew it, why it matters—and you bring that intentionality to every plate.
- Humble, curious, and collaborative. You partner well with non-culinary teammates: farmers, operators, hospitality, marketing, ownership.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of progressive culinary leadership, including time at the Executive Chef or strong Executive Sous Chef level in a respected, ingredient-driven kitchen.
- Demonstrated track record sourcing from farms, ranches, and small producers—ideally with direct farm-to-table or chef-and-farm partnership experience.
- Fine-dining and/or tasting-menu experience strongly preferred; restaurant opening or concept-development experience is a significant plus.
- Strong financial acumen: menu engineering, food and labor cost management, capital and operating budget ownership.
- A proven track record of recruiting, developing, and retaining culinary talent in tight labor markets.
- Genuine interest in Hawaiian cuisine, ingredients, and culture; prior Hawaiʻi experience is a plus but not required.
- Willingness and ability to relocate to Kauaʻi.
Reporting & Working Relationships
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Works closely with: Director of Food & Beverage, Farm Team, Director of Operations, Marketing & Brand
Direct reports: Sous Chefs, Pastry Lead, line cooks and kitchen leadership (team will scale into the 2028 restaurant opening)
Compensation & Growth
Common Ground is invested in this role for the long term, and the compensation arc reflects that.
- Starting base salary: $115,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience.
- Planned compensation increase tied to the opening of the new fine-dining restaurant in mid-2028, reflecting the meaningfully expanded scope of leading a flagship operation.
- Comprehensive health benefits and paid time off.
- Real opportunity for ongoing professional growth as the company and culinary program scale.
Location
Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. This is an on-property leadership role; relocation to the island is required.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter, résumé, and—if available—a sample menu or recent project that reflects how you cook from a place, to Cynthia Cagnoni at [email protected].
Common Ground is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the community we are part of and we strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
Pay: $115,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
