Head Chef
Location: Mobile, AL
Position: Full-Time
Gather Freely is a dedicated gluten-free restaurant built so everyone can enjoy dining with confidence. Our kitchen is 100% gluten-free and designed around rigorous food safety practices for guests with Celiac disease and other food allergies. We are committed to creating exceptional food while maintaining the highest standards for allergen awareness and cross-contact prevention.
1. Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Head Chef who is passionate about culinary excellence and understands that food safety is just as important as flavor. The Head Chef will lead all back-of-house operations, oversee menu execution and development, train kitchen staff, and ensure strict adherence to our gluten-free and allergen protocols.
Because Gather Freely serves guests with Celiac disease and other medically necessary dietary restrictions, all kitchen leaders are expected to complete company-designated training and demonstrate competency in gluten-free and allergen-safe food preparation before independently supervising kitchen operations.
This role is ideal for a chef who believes every guest deserves to eat safely and confidently.
2. Responsibilities
- Lead and manage all kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, and efficiency.
- Develop, refine, and execute menu items while maintaining high culinary standards.
- Hire, train, mentor, schedule, and supervise kitchen staff.
- Establish and enforce standard operating procedures for food preparation, sanitation, and allergen safety.
- Ensure strict compliance with all gluten-free procedures and cross-contact prevention protocols.
- Train all kitchen staff on proper handling of gluten-free foods and other major food allergens.
- Verify ingredients, recipes, labeling, and food storage practices that meet Gather Freely's safety standards.
- Monitor kitchen operations to ensure compliance with health department regulations, food safety standards, and company policies.
- Manage food ordering, inventory, food costs, waste reduction, and labor budgets.
- Create efficient prep systems and workflows that support both speed and food safety.
- Collaborate with ownership on menu development, seasonal offerings, and operational improvements.
- Foster a positive, professional, accountable, and team-oriented kitchen culture.
3. Required Qualifications
- Previous experience as an Executive Chef, Head Chef, Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, or similar leadership role.
- Strong understanding of commercial kitchen operations, food safety, sanitation, and team leadership.
- Demonstrated knowledge of gluten-free food preparation and the importance of preventing gluten cross-contact, or a willingness to learn and adhere to strict gluten-free protocols.
- Knowledge of common food allergens and best practices for preventing allergen cross-contact.
- Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- ServSafe Manager Certification, or the ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.
- Willingness to successfully complete employer-provided training in Celiac disease, gluten-free food preparation, allergen management, and cross-contact prevention within the first 30 days of employment.
4. Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen.
- Experience working in restaurants serving guests with food allergies or medically necessary dietary restrictions.
- Previous training or certification related to Celiac disease, gluten-free food preparation, or food allergen management.
- Experience developing and implementing written kitchen procedures and staff training programs.
- Scratch cooking and menu development experience.
- Experience with inventory management, food costing, and labor management.
5. Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.
- Ability to work safely in a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment.
Our Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate understands that preparing food for someone with Celiac disease is not a preference—it's a medical necessity. They lead by example, take pride in developing others, and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, and hospitality.
At Gather Freely, every meal we serve represents trust. We're looking for a Head Chef who shares our commitment to protecting that trust through meticulous preparation, continuous training, and unwavering attention to detail. If you're passionate about creating incredible food while making dining safer and more inclusive for every guest, we'd love to hear from you.
