Executive Chef / Culinary Operations ManagerThe Smokin' Barrel Bar & Grill & Food Boutique
Stirling, Ontario
Help Build Two Growing Food Brands
This isn't your typical chef position.
We're looking for a passionate, hands-on culinary leader to oversee two unique and growing food businesses:
The Smokin' Barrel Bar & Grill – Our busy, elevated casual dining restaurant known for quality food and exceptional guest experiences.
Food Boutique – A specialty food market focused on chef-prepared grab-and-go meals, frozen family dinners, soups, catering, fresh lunch offerings, and locally inspired foods.
If you're someone who loves creating food, leading people, building systems, and seeing your ideas come to life, we'd love to meet you.
Your Opportunity
As our Executive Chef / Culinary Operations Manager, you'll work alongside ownership to continue building two exciting food businesses. This role does require a Working Chef.
You'll be more than a chef—you'll be a leader, mentor, creator, and key part of our growth.
You'll have the opportunity to develop menus, create new products, build kitchen systems, mentor staff, and help shape the future of both businesses.
Your ResponsibilitiesLeadership
✔ Lead and mentor kitchen staff
✔ Build a positive, professional kitchen culture
✔ Train and coach cooks
✔ Schedule and manage labour
✔ Lead by example during service
The Smokin' Barrel
✔ Work online - Working Chef
✔ Oversee daily kitchen operations
✔ Maintain food quality and consistency
✔ Create weekly and seasonal features
✔ Menu development
✔ Inventory management
✔ Ordering and food cost control
✔ Ensure kitchen systems and SOPs are followed
✔ Health & Safety compliance
Food Boutique
You'll play a key role in growing this exciting business by creating:
✔ Fresh grab-and-go lunches
✔ Heat-and-serve family meals
✔ Frozen ready-to-cook meals
✔ Soups
✔ Salads
✔ Sandwiches & wraps
✔ Seasonal meal programs
✔ Catering menus
✔ Retail food products
✔ New food concepts
Operations
✔ Food costing
✔ Recipe development
✔ Portion control
✔ Inventory management
✔ Purchasing
✔ Waste reduction
✔ Kitchen organization
✔ Continuous improvement
We're looking for someone who:
✔ Loves creating great food
✔ Thinks like an owner
✔ Enjoys building systems
✔ Takes pride in developing people
✔ Wants creative input
✔ Is organized and dependable
✔ Can manage multiple priorities
✔ Wants to grow with a company
Qualifications
Preferred:
- 5+ years kitchen leadership experience
- Strong understanding of food costing
- Menu development experience
- Inventory & purchasing experience
- Food Safe Certification
- Experience leading teams
- Passion for scratch cooking
You'll Thrive Here If...
You enjoy:
- Creating new menu items.
- Developing ready-made meals.
- Leading a team.
- Improving systems.
- Thinking outside the box.
- Working closely with ownership.
- Building something from the ground up.
What We Offer
✔ Competitive salary based on experience
✔ Performance bonuses
✔ Creative freedom
✔ Opportunity to build two unique brands
✔ Supportive ownership
✔ Long-term career growth
✔ Staff meals
✔ A workplace where your ideas matter
About Us
We're not looking for someone to simply "run the kitchen."
We're looking for someone who wants to help build something special.
Our goal is to grow both The Smokin' Barrel and Food Boutique into destination food businesses known for quality, consistency, innovation, and exceptional customer experiences.
If you're passionate about food, leadership, and leaving your mark on a growing company, we'd love to hear from you.
Why This Role Is Different
This isn't just another chef position.
It's an opportunity to:
- Lead a busy restaurant kitchen.
- Develop an exciting line of fresh and frozen prepared meals.
- Help shape the future of two growing food brands.
- Build and mentor a strong culinary team.
- Grow into a true leadership role with long-term opportunities.
If this sounds like you please send your resume and we look forward to meeting with you.
Pay: $29.00-$32.00 per hour
Experience:
- Chef: 5 years (required)
- Cooking: 10 years (required)
- Leadership: 4 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
