PRIVATE CHEF

Montecito & Gaviota, CA

$150-$175k DOE + Benefits & Annual Discretionary Bonus + Full Relocation

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking an accomplished Private Chef to support a private sustainability-minded family of four at their primary residence in Montecito, CA.  The Chef will also travel occasionally to support the family. The Chef will provide excellent service to meet the Principals' needs and help build both a health-focused meal program for day-to-day life, and exciting menus for frequent entertaining. Duties include, but are not limited to: planning weekly menus, meal preparation and service, grocery ordering/stocking/shopping, and cleaning and sanitizing work areas before and after meals.  The Chef must be able to source specialty items such as organic, seasonal, and gluten-free products, always follow health and safety rules and regulations, and work unsupervised in a collaborative team environment.  Cuisine preferences include a mostly gluten and grain-free Mediterranean-focused diet.  Principals enjoy meals heavy on greens and vegetables with a moderate amount of high-starch vegetables.  The ideal diet would be clean and healthy.  The Principals enjoy a wide range of flavors.  The Chef will report to the Operations Partner.

Must be able to accommodate dietary requirements, be passionate about sourcing and working with local farmers and purveyors, be creative, hospitality-minded, and have the know-how to deliver both casual, comfortable meals and exciting formal event menus.  This position requires an easy-going, pleasant, and professional demeanor.  Flexibility on days and hours will be required.  The person in this role must be adaptable, flexible, punctual, organized, attentive to detail, and possess exceptional listening and communication skills.  This role supports a tech-savvy family that values those who leverage technology to streamline communications, track and record information, and plan and manage timelines effectively.

From a values perspective, the Principals aspire to have a residential and personal services organization whose members are exceptional, always professional, and strive toward the following three forms of sustainability: (1) Economically smart stewards of the dollar; (2) Eco sustainability - be stewards of the earth; (3) Personally sustainable - be stewards of ourselves and those around us.  As professionals, the Principals envision an environment where the organization's members will strive to be exceptional, be of service, and be themselves. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

 Private Chef Responsibilities

• Meal Preparation— Prepare food and beverages when required for family and guests. Support meal service, including table setting, clearing/washing dishes, and general clean-up. Standard meals include a served lunch and served dinner 5 days per week, but additional meal prep may be requested from time to time. 
• Planning— Plan weekly menus, shop for, cook, serve, and clean up.
• Collaboration — Create customized menus in collaboration with the Principals.
• Shopping — Shopping for meal ingredients, pantry and grocery staples for the family, necessary kitchen tools and equipment, and serviceware, inspecting meal ingredients before making purchases to ensure they are of the highest quality.
• Attention to Detail—Maintaining detailed records to determine meal preferences, specifications, food allergies, and dietary restrictions.
• Nutrition—Must have a strong understanding of nutrition, have sound knowledge of different cuisines worldwide, and be well-versed in multiple cooking techniques.
• Supplements & Vitamins - Collaborate with the family assistant to manage the family’s supplements and vitamins, which includes organizing the pill boxes for the week, and ordering supplies when appropriate.
• Gardening Oversight – Plan, design, and harvest from a family herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens in collaboration with staff and consultants.
• Cleaning and Sanitizing— Cleaning and sanitizing work areas before and after meal preparation, maintaining a clean work area, and preparing meals per health and safety regulations.
• Deep Cleaning — Develop and oversee deep cleaning processes, checklists, and schedules.
• Kitchen, Beverages and Wine Inventories – Monitor and stock pantry, beverages, wine and other household necessities.  Keep an eye on expirations and low stock and purchase replacements when needed.  Keep track of all food-related inventories.
• Dress Code – The Chef should always dress in appropriate attire. 
• Expense Control - Responsible for managing kitchen-related expenditures & ensuring compliance with systems for proper documentation and reconciliation of credit card purchases and receipts.
• Vendor & Supplier Relationships - Develop strong relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure market pricing and premium service standards.
• Professionalism – A quiet, professional, and respectful demeanor is required.  The individual must be comfortable working in a private home kitchen and respect the homeowners' privacy.
• Travel – The Chef will provide meals for the family at their primary residence and travel when needed, primarily to their remote location at Hollister Ranch. Travel to other locations may be needed on occasion, and accommodations will be provided.
• Mentorship – The Chef may be asked to provide hands-on training and mentorship, as requested, to the Chefs of the  commercial boutique resort properties owned by the family.
• Events - The Chef will also be responsible for collaborating in the creation and execution of entertaining and events and should be proactive in hiring and training sous chefs and front-of-house staff when appropriate. 
• Flexibility – Flexibility on days, hours, and holidays will be required. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• A Bachelor's or Associate's in Culinary Arts and certification as a PCC or PCEC is preferred.
• A proven track record of excellent, verified, long-term private chef experience following notable stints in premier restaurant environments.
• Experience operating at the Chef de Cuisine or Sous Chef level within highly acclaimed, technique-driven, impressive kitchens.  
• Preference for candidates coming from standout restaurants in major culinary hubs–specifically Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago–and whom were trained within elite culinary programs and backgrounds, including but not limited to:
• Acclaimed Culinary Groups & Icons: Jeremy Fox, Evan Funke, Suzanne Goin, Michael Tusk, Stuart Brioza, Danny Meyer, Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud.
• Standout & Michelin-Caliber Establishments: Manresa, SingleThread, Saison, Lazy Bear, Chez Panisse, Eleven Madison Park, NoMad, The Modern, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Bavel, Bestia, Gjelina, Pasjoli.
• Excellent working knowledge of food, health and safety regulations.
• Physical strength and stamina to work for extended hours.
• Meticulous with refined attention to detail.
• Experience in maintaining a private employer's confidentiality, safety, security, and privacy.
• Highly professional with excellent communication skills.
• Must have a US Passport and the flexibility to travel nationally and internationally as required.
• Tech-savvy: advanced knowledge of both Google and Apple products with demonstrable proficiency with Google Suite (calendar, drive, sheets, docs); calendaring programs; Zoom and other online video communication software; PM/messaging tools; quick learner of new apps.

Personal Qualities & Character Sketch

• Warm, polished, intuitive, calm, and collaborative by nature.
• A superb attitude and work ethic.
• Ability to handle feedback and maintain exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Honest, trustworthy, reliable, and well-presented.
• Highly organized, efficient, service-oriented, and low ego.  Works well under pressure, not easily frazzled.
• A quiet, professional, and respectful demeanor.  Must be comfortable working in a family kitchen and respect the Principals' privacy.
• Is observant and attentive to the Principal's preferences. 
• Has a can-do attitude, no task being too great or too small, and genuinely enjoys providing personal service.



 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Work location: This is a live-out position based in Montecito, CA, with up to 10% travel.
• Compensation: Competitive DOE + benefits and annual discretionary bonus opportunity.
• Verifiable references, a thorough background check, and an online assessment are required of all qualified finalists.
• Will require ~1-2 week trial, and allergies and culinary preferences will be provided in advance.
• Equal opportunity employer.  Our client celebrates diversity in an equitable and inclusive environment.