Head Chef (breakfast / lunch / brunch) – Ivy. Coffee Shop - About Ivy.
Ivy. is more than just your daily caffeine fix — it’s a thoughtfully designed coffee shop built around quality, style, and community. Our first location on Toronto’s waterfront has established a strong foundation rooted in consistency, intentional service, and a clear brand identity.
With our second location on Duncan Street, we are expanding into a more complete food and hospitality offering, bringing together exceptional coffee, a focused food program, office catering, and intimate events in a highly visible downtown location connected directly to a busy office tower and lobby.
Unlike many restaurant kitchens, our goal is not to serve an extensive menu or operate late into the evening. We believe in doing fewer things exceptionally well.
We believe this is one of those rare opportunities in hospitality — a chance to lead, create, and build something special while working within a more predictable daytime schedule, a focused menu, and a quality-driven environment. It's the kind of role that doesn't come along very often in our industry.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Head Chef to lead and take ownership of the kitchen at our Duncan Street location.
This is a leadership role for someone who enjoys building systems, mentoring a small team, and executing a refined menu at a consistently high level.
Initially, you will work alongside a lean team of 1–3 people, helping establish the kitchen standards, recipes, systems, and culture that will support the long-term growth of the business.
As Ivy. continues to grow, you will play a key role in shaping the future direction of our food program.
Why This Role Is Different
This position offers something increasingly rare in the hospitality industry:
- Primarily daytime hours, with regular service focused on breakfast and lunch
- Most days finishing around 4:00 PM
- A focused and manageable menu designed around quality and consistency
- A professional office-building environment with predictable guest patterns
- Limited late nights compared to traditional restaurant operations
- Direct access to office catering opportunities through the building above
- The opportunity to build a food program without the pressures of high-volume restaurant service
We are intentionally creating a kitchen culture that values craftsmanship, organization, consistency, and hospitality over volume.
What You'll Be Working On
- A focused breakfast and lunch menu
- Weekend brunch service
- Office catering for the tenants of a 10-storey office building directly above the café
- Small private events and gatherings
- Seasonal menu development and refinement
- Building efficient systems for a quality-driven food operation
Key ResponsibilitiesKitchen Leadership & Operations
- Lead daily kitchen operations and service
- Establish and maintain kitchen standards and systems
- Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, and execution
- Manage scheduling and labour planning
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment
Menu Development & Cost Control
- Develop menu offerings aligned with the Ivy. brand
- Create and standardize recipes and procedures
- Manage food costing and portion controls
- Continuously improve operational efficiency and profitability
- Develop seasonal features and catering offerings
Purchasing & Inventory Management
- Manage ordering and supplier relationships
- Monitor inventory levels and stock rotation
- Control food costs and minimize waste
- Ensure readiness for daily operations, catering, and events
Catering & Events
- Lead execution of office catering programs
- Create systems that support scalable catering growth
- Assist with event planning and food execution
- Ensure consistency across all service formats
Team Development
- Recruit, train, and develop kitchen team members
- Create a positive, professional, and accountable work environment
- Develop SOPs and training systems
- Ensure compliance with food safety and health regulations
Qualifications
- 3+ years of leadership experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or similar role
- Experience in cafés, brunch concepts, catering, or casual upscale dining
- Strong menu development and food costing experience
- Knowledge of labour management, inventory control, and purchasing
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Strong leadership and ownership mentality
- Food Handler Certification
What We're Looking For
- Someone excited to build and grow with a young Toronto brand
- A chef who values quality over quantity
- Strong attention to detail and consistency
- A leader who enjoys developing people and systems
- Creativity balanced with operational discipline
- A positive, solutions-focused mindset
What You'll Get
- Primarily daytime hours with a predictable schedule
- Significant influence over menus, systems, and kitchen culture
- Direct collaboration with ownership
- The opportunity to shape and grow a food program from the ground up
- Career growth opportunities as Ivy. expands
- Competitive compensation based on experience
- Staff meals, coffee, and in-store perks
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Work Location: In Person – Downtown Toronto
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $24.00-$30.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
