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Culinary Field Chef

Store:   Santa Clarita – Headquarters Map

Wage: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00

Type: full-time

Description

Job Title: Culinary Field Chef
Classification: Exempt

Reports to: Director of Culinary

Job Summary:
The Culinary Field Chef supports day-to-day field culinary operations across all foodservice programs, ensuring consistent execution of Vallarta standards. This role provides hands-on operational support, coaching, and culinary expertise to Kitchen Managers and foodservice teams, while driving sales growth, product consistency, and an exceptional guest experience across all locations.

This position serves as a key field resource, supporting menu execution, recipe adherence, training, and operational improvements. The Culinary Field Chef collaborates closely with the Corporate Chef and cross-functional teams to support menu development, product rollouts, and company-wide culinary initiatives.

The role plays a critical part in new store openings, training execution, and ongoing operational support, with approximately 80% of time spent in field locations.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide culinary and operational support across all foodservice concepts (Taqueria, Tortilleria, Restaurants, etc.)
  • Coach and support Kitchen Managers on execution, standards, and guest service
  • Ensure consistency in recipes, portioning, presentation, and flavor profiles
  • Lead training and field execution of new menu items and programs
  • Support product development and assist with implementation in the field
  • Identify operational improvements to improve cost, efficiency, and quality
  • Reinforce company standards, culture, and guest experience expectations
  • Monitor performance and support business initiatives aligned with company goals

Operational Responsibilities:

  • Ensure compliance with health, safety, and sanitation standards
  • Support food cost control, inventory, and operational reporting
  • Maintain kitchen cleanliness, organization, and efficiency
  • Assist with new store openings, remodels, and training execution
  • Ensure consistency of recipes, procedures, and training materials
  • Assist with staffing, onboarding, and team development as needed

Food Quality & Compliance:

  • Enforce recipe adherence, portion control, and food quality standards
  • Maintain HACCP compliance and food safety procedures
  • Monitor temperature control, storage, and handling practices
  • Conduct quality checks for taste, appearance, and consistency

Customer Service & Experience:

  • Deliver and model Vallarta’s Nuestra CASA service standards
  • Support strong guest satisfaction and service execution
  • Address customer feedback professionally and promptly

Team Leadership & Development:

  • Provide coaching, training, and development to culinary teams
  • Promote accountability, teamwork, and performance standards
  • Partner with leadership on performance and operational needs

Collaboration & Communication:

  • Support operations across Taqueria, Prepared Foods, Juice Bar, Grab & Go, and Catering as assigned.
  • Maintain clear communication with leadership regarding production needs, shortages, or operational challenges.
  • Ensure timely escalation of issues that may impact food safety, quality, or service.

Safety:

  • Enforce all safety procedures and proper equipment use
  • Report incidents and maintain safe working conditions
  • Ensure adherence to company policies and standards

Other Duties:

  • Support all current and future culinary programs
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Required Education and Experience:

  • Minimum 5+ years in culinary, restaurant, or multi-unit operations leadership
  • Strong experience in foodservice operations and team development
  • Experience in recipe development or multi-unit support preferred
  • Strong knowledge of food cost, labor, and inventory controls
  • Ability to train and lead in a fast-paced environment
  • High School Diploma required; Culinary Degree preferred
  • Equivalent experience may be considered

Working Conditions:

  • Fast-paced kitchen and retail environment
  • Frequent standing, walking, and lifting (up to 50 lbs.)
  • Exposure to hot/cold environments and kitchen equipment
  • Moderate to loud noise levels

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is an exempt position. Work schedules may vary based on business needs, requiring flexibility in hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Approximately 80% of travel is required within the company’s operating regions, including overnight stays. Mileage reimbursement is provided for approved business travel.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employees may perform other duties as directed. All employees are expected to perform any reasonable task or request that is consistent with fulfilling company goals and objectives.

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Privacy Notice (CCPA)

VALLARTA SUPERMARKETS

NOTICE TO JOB APPLICANTS (1/1/2023)

California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”)/California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”)

This notice explains to you, pursuant to the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”)/California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), how Vallarta Supermarkets, and related entities, (the Company), may collect your information in relation to your application for potential employment with the Company.

  1. Personal Information

For purposes of this notice, “Personal Information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular California resident or household, or as otherwise defined under the CCPA/CPRA, including consumers, employees, and job applicants.

“Personal Information” does not include certain information, including publicly available information lawfully made available from government records, deidentified or aggregate information, or other information excepted under the CCPA/CPRA.

  1. Information We Collect about Applicants

We need you to provide certain information in order for you to complete your application for employment with the Company. The following provides the categories of Personal Information we may collect about applicants as part of the application process, and/or our employees if ultimately hired.

  1. Personal Identifiers. We may collect your name, driver’s license or state identification card number, passport number or other government identification number (including U.S. work authorization number), Social Security information, residence/postal address, email address(es), phone number(s), and other contact information during the application and recruitment process. We may collect your emergency contact information as well. If you are hired, we may collect additional personal identifiers about you to facilitate the employment relationship.
  1. Characteristics of Protected Classifications under California or Federal law. We may collect your age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, and marital status.
  1. Biometric Information. We may collect your fingerprints to facilitate the employment relationship, if you are hired, and required as part of the hiring/employment process.
  1. Professional or Employment-Related Information. Depending on your role/duties with the Company, we may collect information regarding your criminal history, driving history, and credit history as part of our employment background check. We also collect information regarding your professional and employment history and other qualifications you provide in your employment application, including references, skills/abilities, employment goals and expectations, and other related information (if you choose to provide them).
  1. Education Information. We collect information regarding your professional and education history to the extent provided in your resume/application.
  1. Thermal or other Health-Related Information. If you apply in-person or come to our worksite(s) as part of the application process, we may need to take your temperature or other similar information as part of our health protection policies. However, this information is not retained, and will only be obtained if required by law.
  1. Additional Information.  We may gather information about your potential employment with the Company, such as the company location/facility to which you are assigned, position and description of duties, fulltime and part-time status, pay rate, as well as descriptions about your job performance and skills. 
  1. Purposes for Collection of Your Personal Information

We use the above categories of personal information for the following business purpose(s):

  1. To make recruitment and employment decisions, including assessing your application and qualifications for employment with us.
  2. To conduct and verify background checks (where applicable).
  3. If hired, to facilitate onboarding, payroll, benefit, and leave of absence administration
  4. For security purposes.
  5. To obtain and/or maintain insurance policies and coverage.
  6. To comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
  7. To manage workers’ compensation claims and conduct workplace investigations.
  1. Third-Party Collection of Personal Information

The Company may use third-party vendors, such as Alliance Background, to facilitate the application process for applicants. In this process, these third parties may collect an applicant’s personal information and provide it to us for employment decisions.

  1. Additional CCPA/CPRA Disclosures

At this time, the CCPA/CPRA does not afford applicants or employees the right to make requests regarding their Personal Information as it relates to the application and/or employment relationship. This does not affect other rights you may have under other laws.

Further, nothing in this notice restricts the Company’s rights or ability to:

  1. Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
  2. Meet any other legal obligation, including complying with lawful inquiries, investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other requirements of applicable lawful authorities.
  3. Exercise its legal rights and defend claims.
  4. Report potentially unlawful activity to appropriate law enforcement and cooperate in any resulting investigation.
  5. Detect and respond to unauthorized activity and security incidents.
  6. Protect against and report potential illegal activity and/or fraud; or
  7. Provide information to our service providers in relation to the above listed purposes, or transfer information as part of a merger, acquisition, or other transfer of some or all of our business to another party.