About Equal Parts:
Equal Parts is an elevated cocktail lounge and restaurant opening soon in North Beach, San Francisco — blending globally inspired flavors, warm hospitality, and a vibrant, design-forward atmosphere. As we prepare to launch, we’re seeking a talented and visionary Head Chef to lead our kitchen and help bring this concept to life from the ground up.
The Role:
We’re looking for a creative, strategic, and hands-on Head Chef to develop and lead the culinary identity of Equal Parts. You’ll have full ownership of the kitchen — from menu development and team building to operational excellence and vendor partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to shape the guest experience through food and create a kitchen culture rooted in collaboration, consistency, and innovation.
You should be passionate about food, thoughtful about sourcing, and excited to create a dining experience that’s as bold and thoughtful as our cocktails and design.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Leadership & Menu Development:
Curate and execute a modern cuisine fusion menu that balances innovation, flavor, and cost-efficiency
Adapt offerings to reflect seasonality, guest preferences, and evolving culinary trends
Collaborate with ownership on pricing strategy and food cost targets
Team Building & Management:
Recruit, hire, and train the back-of-house (BOH) team from the ground up
Create a positive, high-performance kitchen culture rooted in respect, mentorship, and accountability
Manage scheduling, staffing levels, and labor cost efficiency
Operations & Kitchen Systems:
Oversee BOH operations including inventory, ordering, vendor relationships, and kitchen technology (POS, prep software, etc.)
Maintain the highest standards of food safety, cleanliness, and compliance
Ensure consistency and quality across all services — from dinner rush to late-night offerings
Strategic Planning & Collaboration:
Partner with ownership on kitchen buildout, equipment needs, and layout optimization
Provide input on kitchen-related marketing opportunities (menu sneak peeks, chef features, behind-the-scenes content)
Contribute to the overall brand by ensuring the food is aligned with the Equal Parts ethos: bold, elevated, and guest-centric
Qualifications:
3+ years of experience as a Head Chef or Executive Sous Chef in a high-volume, creative kitchen
Proven leadership and team management skills in fast-paced environments
Deep understanding of kitchen operations, scheduling, and cost control
Passionate about flavor, presentation, and culinary innovation
Comfortable working with ownership on financials, margins, and forecasting
Valid Food Handler’s Certification required
Must be able to stand for long periods, lift up to 50 lbs, and be available afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays
Strong professionalism and punctuality
Must be able to provide valid work authorization
For consideration, please respond to this post with answers to the following questions. Resume must be attached (or list out previous employers and job titles).
1. What is your experience with running a kitchen? Please include the size of the kitchen and the number of staff members.
2. Have you opened a kitchen from start to finish, including menu creation? If so, please elaborate.
3. Were you responsible for hiring training staff members? If so, please elaborate.
4. What types of cuisine have you cooked before and would be comfortable creating a menu for?
5. What are your salary expectations?
