We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Corporate Chef to lead culinary innovation and excellence across our organization. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the development, execution, and refinement of diverse food offerings, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and presentation. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned food industry professional eager to shape culinary strategies at a corporate level while fostering a vibrant, team-oriented environment.
About the Role
As Corporate Chef, you will play a key role in shaping the future of UNA's food program while maintaining a strong connection to the day-to-day operations of our flagship location on 17th Avenue. This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role that blends culinary leadership, menu development, operational excellence, supplier relationships, training, and innovation.
Organization Description
UNA Restaurants Canada (URC) embodies a local restaurant concept that specializes in California-style thin crust pizzas, curated boutique wines, and dedication to sourcing local ingredients. Taking inspiration from ingredient-centric culinary traditions found in the Mediterranean and California, the restaurant's core objective is to curate an unparalleled dining experience for its community. Influenced by the lively dining landscape of San Francisco, where such establishments serve as cornerstones of neighborhoods, URC aspires to replicate this anchoring role in both the Calgary and Saskatoon communities. By fostering an environment that is inviting and all-encompassing, URC aims to become an enduring fixture.
Equity Commitment
UNA Restaurants Canada (URC). takes its responsibility as an employer and is committed to equal opportunity. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. URC committed to upholding the highest of standards in relation to internal equity, inclusion, diversity and anti-racism. We offer the opportunity to all staff members to assist in the recruitment practices used within our operation. This includes, but not limited to: sharing job opportunities, challenging recruitment standards, inclusion in group interviews and participation in unique professional development opportunities. We will take steps necessary to ensure that our vision and values are upheld internally. We understand that Diversity and Inclusion are not simply buzzwords and need to be understood and taken seriously within the business. We strive to be inclusive in all hiring practices, training and development provisions. We understand that true inclusion removes all barriers, discrimination and intolerance. When applied properly in the workplace, it is natural for everyone to feel included and supported.
Responsibilities (include but are not limited to the following)
Culinary Program Development
- Lead the ongoing development, innovation, and improvement of UNA's food program.
- Develop new menu items, recipe adaptations, feature plates, and feature pizzas on an ongoing basis.
- Create, test, cost, and document recipes to ensure consistency and profitability across all locations.
- Continually evaluate existing menu items, ingredients, recipes, packaging, and smallwares to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support timely, organized, and high-quality menu and feature rollouts across corporate and franchise locations.
- Balance creativity and innovation with operational execution, food cost targets, and brand consistency.
Food Cost, Product and Supplier Management
- Constantly evaluate food costs and packaging costs to ensure URC is receiving the highest quality products at the best possible value.
- Work with suppliers to negotiate contracts and maintain strong, accountable partnerships.
- Hold third-party suppliers accountable for quality, pricing, service, and consistency.
- Continually follow up on supplier contracts and agreements to ensure costs and quality remain competitive.
- Evaluate new products and vendors to identify opportunities for improved quality, efficiency, and profitability.
- Work with inventory programs and recipe systems to ensure accurate CoGS and inventory reporting.
- Ensure all UNA locations receive timely deliveries of high-quality ingredients from trusted vendors.
- Work within established budgets while finding creative and effective ways to maximize available resources.
Flagship Kitchen Leadership
- Work alongside the Kitchen Manager at UNA 17th to ensure the flagship location maintains exceptional food quality, profitability, and operational standards.
- Spend significant time working on the line and in the kitchen to observe menu execution, products, systems, and BOH processes in real time.
- Support day-to-day kitchen operations and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and profitability.
- Monitor and contribute to performance related to sales, labour, CoGS, and profit.
- Help maintain a strong culture and positive relationships between team members and guests.
- Support regular food safety checks, self-assessments, operational meetings, and chef meetings.
Training and Team Development
- Develop innovative BOH training programs and materials that can be implemented across all UNA locations.
- Help produce training videos, resources, and additional learning materials.
- Provide hands-on training and support to both corporate and franchise locations when needed.
- Use insights from day-to-day operations to identify training opportunities and improve BOH systems and procedures.
- Inspire BOH teams to strive for culinary excellence, consistency, and continuous improvement.
- Work collaboratively with teams to solve internal personnel and operational challenges.
- Lead a monthly chef meeting, including creating agendas, gathering feedback and data, coordinating attendance, and presenting relevant information.
Leadership and Communication
- Maintain accurate, timely, and professional communication with head office, leadership teams, suppliers, and BOH teams.
- Work closely with the Director of Operations, reporting progress on assigned initiatives and identifying additional opportunities or needs within the organization.
- Build positive and productive working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and industry partners.
- Approach challenges with a positive, ethical, collaborative, and solutions-focused mindset.
- Demonstrate confidence, accountability, self-control, and professionalism in all interactions.
- Support the growth and development of the organization by taking on new and unforeseen initiatives when required.
Physical Demands
- The employee is required to stand for up to 12 hours at a time as well as walk, bend, stoop, climb, balance, kneel, and crawl
- The position requires working taste buds, ability to smell, feel with fingers and visually inspect, including close and distance vision
- Lifting and/or moving up to 20 lbs. regularly; occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 50 lbs.
- Manual dexterity required to use computer and peripherals
What We’re Looking For:
- Significant culinary leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant or hospitality environment.
- Expertise in menu development, recipe creation, food costing, and product evaluation.
- A strong understanding of BOH operations, food cost management, inventory systems, and profitability.
- Experience developing and implementing training programs and operational procedures.
- Strong supplier management and negotiation skills.
- The ability to identify inefficiencies and create practical operational solutions.
- Comfort working with technology platforms for troubleshooting, reporting, recipe management, and operational analysis.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
- A hands-on leadership style with the ability to move between strategic corporate work and active kitchen operations.
- A curious, entrepreneurial mindset and genuine passion for food and hospitality.
Why Join UNA pizza + wine?
- Be a part of a well-loved brand with a commitment to quality and innovation
- Competitive salary and benefits package (compensation will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate)
- Be part of a collaborative organization that values innovation, authenticity, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Opportunities for growth and professional development within a growing hospitality group.
Join us as a Corporate Chef to lead innovative culinary initiatives that delight guests and elevate our brand’s reputation! Your expertise will inspire teams to deliver exceptional dining experiences while advancing your career in a vibrant, supportive environment dedicated to excellence in the food industry.
Pay: $80,000.00-$90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Discounted or free food
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
