Head Chef

Head Chef – Chef de Cuisine (CDC) Panacea | Amenia, New York Come Cook With Us. At Panacea, we believe great food brings people together, hospitality should feel genuine, and a restaurant should be more than just a place to eat. Located in the beautiful Hudson Valley in Amenia, New York, Panacea is an independently owned, chef-driven neighborhood restaurant serving thoughtfully prepared, seasonal cuisine inspired by flavors and traditions from around the world. We pride ourselves on cooking from scratch, working with quality ingredients, supporting local farms and producers, and creating an experience that feels both elevated and approachable. We're a small, passionate team with big ambitions, and we're looking for the right Head Chef / Chef de Cuisine (CDC) to help lead our kitchen into its next chapter. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who loves to cook just as much as they love to lead. The Opportunity We're searching for an experienced, motivated, and creative chef who can take ownership of the kitchen's daily operations while working closely with our chef-owners to maintain and further develop Panacea's culinary identity. This is not a position for someone looking to spend their evenings in an office or simply oversee a team from a distance. You will be cooking, working the line, and leading by example every night we're in service. We're looking for someone who gets excited about executing a beautiful dinner service, takes pride in consistency and organization, enjoys teaching and developing cooks, and understands that great leadership begins with being willing to do the work yourself. The right person will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the restaurant, contribute creatively to our evolving menus, and become an integral part of our continued growth. What You'll Be Doing Cooking & Culinary Leadership Actively cook on the line and participate in dinner service alongside the kitchen team. Lead by example through excellent technique, preparation, organization, and attention to detail. Ensure every plate leaving the kitchen meets Panacea's standards for flavor, presentation, consistency, and quality. Collaborate with our chef-owners on seasonal menu development, specials, and new dishes. Maintain our commitment to scratch cooking, thoughtful sourcing, and minimizing waste. Oversee daily prep, mise en place, station readiness, and smooth service execution. Kitchen Management & Operations Take ownership of the kitchen's daily organization, cleanliness, and efficiency. Manage ordering, inventory, product rotation, and vendor relationships. Monitor food costs, portioning, purchasing, and waste while maintaining exceptional quality. Assist with kitchen scheduling, labor management, and staffing needs. Maintain proper food safety, sanitation, storage, and health department standards. Establish and uphold systems that allow the kitchen to operate consistently and efficiently. Team Leadership & Development Train, mentor, and develop cooks through patience, accountability, and hands-on instruction. Foster a positive, professional, respectful, and collaborative kitchen culture. Communicate effectively with the front-of-house leadership team to ensure seamless service. Hold yourself and your team accountable while maintaining an environment where people are proud to work. Help build a strong, dependable kitchen team capable of delivering exceptional food night after night. Who We're Looking For Required Qualifications Minimum 4 years of professional kitchen experience , preferably in quality, scratch-driven restaurants. Strong cooking fundamentals, knife skills, and knowledge of professional kitchen techniques. Proven ability to work efficiently and confidently on a busy restaurant line. A genuine passion for food, hospitality, and the craft of cooking. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. A commitment to cleanliness, consistency, food safety, and attention to detail. Excellent communication skills and a willingness to lead by example. The ability to remain composed, focused, and solution-oriented during demanding services. Willingness and enthusiasm to work hands-on during every scheduled dinner service. Preferred Qualifications Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Executive Sous Chef, or equivalent kitchen leader. Experience with menu development, food costing, inventory, and ordering. Familiarity with seasonal ingredients, local sourcing, and a variety of international cuisines. Experience training and mentoring kitchen staff. Strong understanding of kitchen labor management and restaurant profitability. We value experience, but we value attitude, work ethic, humility, and passion just as much. A talented sous chef who is ready to take the next step in their career is absolutely encouraged to apply. What Makes Panacea Different? We're not a corporate restaurant, and we're not interested in creating a rigid, ego-driven kitchen environment. Panacea was built by people who love food, love hospitality, and believe in taking care of both their guests and their team. We believe an excellent restaurant can be ambitious without being pretentious, professional without being intimidating, and successful without losing its soul. As our Chef de Cuisine, you'll have the opportunity to work directly with ownership, have a real voice in the evolution of our food, and help shape the future of an independently owned restaurant with an exciting road ahead. We're looking for a partner in the kitchen — someone who takes ownership, brings ideas to the table, and genuinely cares about the success of the restaurant and the people who make it happen. Schedule & Expectations This is a full-time, hands-on culinary leadership position centered around dinner service. Evenings and weekends are essential, and the expectation is that our chef will be actively cooking and leading during scheduled services. Our restaurant is currently closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Get to Know Us Before Applying We strongly encourage every applicant to explore who we are, what we cook, and the kind of restaurant we're building before submitting an application. Website: https://www.panaceany.com Instagram: Find us on Instagram through our website to see our food, restaurant, and the community we've built. @NYPanacea We believe it's important that our next chef connects with our food, our philosophy, and our vision. Interested? We'd Love to Hear From You. Please submit your resume along with a brief introduction telling us about yourself, your cooking background, and what interests you about joining Panacea. We'd especially love to hear what kind of food excites you, how you approach leading a kitchen, and what you're looking for in the next chapter of your culinary career. We're not simply looking for someone to fill a position. We're looking for someone who wants to build something meaningful with us. Do what you love. Love what you do. Panacea — The Cure-All, For All. Pay: $68,000.00 - $78,000.00 per year Benefits: Dental insurance Food provided Health insurance Vision insurance Application Question(s): This is a hands-on Chef de Cuisine position where you will be actively cooking on the line during dinner service while also overseeing kitchen operations, food costs, and staff development. What interests you about this type of role, and how would you balance cooking alongside your team with your leadership responsibilities? Experience: Kitchen: 4 years (Preferred) Location: Amenia, NY 12501 (Preferred) Ability to Commute: Amenia, NY 12501 (Preferred) Ability to Relocate: Amenia, NY 12501: Relocate before starting work (Preferred) Work Location: In person