Executive chef

Position: Executive Chef Location: Kulture Restaurant – Houston, TX Type: Full-Time | Salary + Bonus | Benefits Offered About Us: Kulture is a progressive, upscale restaurant in the heart of Houston that pays homage to the African diaspora through elevated Afro-Caribbean, Southern, and African culinary traditions. We're known for innovative flavors, vibrant presentation, and a soulful yet refined dining experience. Position Overview: We are seeking a visionary and experienced Executive Chef to lead our kitchen team. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in Afro-Caribbean cuisine, a deep respect for culinary heritage, and the creativity to elevate traditional dishes with modern techniques. The Executive Chef will be responsible for leading day-to-day kitchen operations, driving culinary innovation, managing food and labor costs, and ensuring consistent excellence in execution and presentation. --- Key Responsibilities: Lead and inspire the culinary team to consistently deliver high-quality, artfully presented dishes aligned with Kulture’s brand. Develop seasonal, innovative menus rooted in Afro-Caribbean, Southern, and African culinary traditions with elevated, fine dining execution. Maintain high standards of food quality, cleanliness, sanitation, and safety. Manage food and labor costs to achieve financial targets without compromising quality. Oversee kitchen scheduling, ordering, inventory, and vendor relations. Recruit, train, and mentor kitchen staff, fostering a culture of respect, learning, and professionalism. Collaborate with ownership and front-of-house leadership on new concepts, events, and guest experience enhancements. Ensure consistency in execution and portioning across all shifts and staff. Maintain systems for recipe standardization, prep lists, and kitchen efficiency. --- Qualifications: Minimum 5+ years of Executive Chef or senior leadership experience in upscale or fine dining establishments. Demonstrated expertise in Afro-Caribbean cuisine; additional Southern and African cuisine experience is a strong plus. Proven success managing food cost, labor budgets, and kitchen financials. Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills. Commitment to excellence, hospitality, and continuous improvement. Culinary degree preferred but not required if supported by exceptional experience. A track record of longevity and growth within previous roles—we value consistency and dedication. --- What We Offer: Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses. Health and wellness benefits. Opportunity to be part of a respected and culturally rich brand. Creative freedom to influence and shape the culinary direction of a flagship restaurant. Supportive ownership and passionate and community oriented team. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year Benefits: • Health insurance • Paid time off Shift: • Day shift • Evening shift • Morning shift Supplemental Pay: • Bonus opportunities • Performance bonus Work Location: In person