Executive Chef

Executive Chef – New Opening, Iconic Destination Restaurant

Location: Lynchburg, Virginia

Compensation: Base Salary in the $85K Range + Guaranteed Bonus & Full Benefits

Presented by: Tom Bull, Gecko Hospitality

The Opportunity

Gecko Hospitality is exclusively representing the launch of a new, iconic destination restaurant in Lynchburg, Virginia. We are seeking a creative and hands-on Executive Chef to lead this exciting opening. This is a rare career opportunity to helm a brand-new, state-of-the-art kitchen, develop a culinary program from the ground up, and build your own Back of House team.

This role is for a true culinarian who thrives in a chef-driven environment and has the vision to create a landmark dining experience. If you are a proven leader with experience managing high-quality, independent concepts, this position offers the autonomy and resources to make your mark.

Leadership & Responsibilities

Menu Development: Conceptualize, design, and execute an innovative, from-scratch menu that establishes the restaurant as a premier culinary destination.

Team Building: Take full responsibility for recruiting, hiring, training, and mentoring the entire opening BOH team, creating a positive and high-performance kitchen culture.

Hands-On Leadership: Act as a working chef, actively managing the line during service to ensure flawless execution, consistency, and quality control.

Operational Excellence: Implement and manage all kitchen systems, including inventory control, purchasing, food costing, and labor management to achieve financial targets.

Quality & Safety: Uphold the absolute highest standards of sanitation, food safety, and kitchen organization.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Experience: A minimum of 3+ years of stable tenure as an Executive Chef or Head Chef is required.

Proven Environment: Experience leading the kitchen of a smaller restaurant group or a successful independent restaurant with annual sales in the $2M - $3M range is highly preferred.

Skill Set: Demonstrable expertise in menu creation, team building, and managing kitchen financials in a high-volume, scratch-cooking environment.

Relocation: The ideal candidate will be available to relocate to the Lynchburg, Virginia area.

Attributes: A creative, passionate, and systems-oriented leader dedicated to culinary excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: A competitive base salary in the $85,000 range.

Guaranteed Bonus: An additional guaranteed bonus provides further earning potential.

Benefits: A comprehensive array of benefits is included.

Creative Control: The autonomy to build your culinary legacy in a brand-new facility.

Confidential Application Process

Your application will be handled with professional confidentiality by Gecko Hospitality. To be considered for this exceptional opportunity, please send your professional 2026 resume directly to:

Tom Bull

Award-Winning Hospitality Recruiter

Email:

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer.