NOVA is an elevated upscale-casual restaurant built around exceptional hospitality, premium Canadian ingredients, and contemporary West Coast cuisine. With a focus on premium steaks, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and polished yet approachable service, NOVA delivers a dining experience that is vibrant, sophisticated, and memorable.

As NOVA continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced and inspiring Head Chef to lead the culinary team at our Port Moody location. This is an opportunity for a passionate culinary leader who enjoys building strong teams, developing future leaders, maintaining exceptional standards, and contributing to the culinary direction of a growing hospitality group. Reporting directly to ownership, the Head Chef will have overall responsibility for the performance of the kitchen, including food quality, team leadership, kitchen culture, food and labour costs, purchasing, inventory, cleanliness, and operational execution. This is a hands-on leadership position . We are looking for a chef who is equally comfortable leading a busy service, coaching a team, reviewing food costs, improving systems, and working alongside ownership on menu development and the continued evolution of NOVA. The successful candidate will lead by example and create a kitchen culture built around accountability, consistency, respect, development, and pride in execution.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead all back-of-house operations and ensure smooth, efficient daily service.
- Recruit, train, mentor, coach, schedule, and develop a high-performing culinary team.
- Build a positive and professional kitchen culture focused on teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Execute and protect NOVA's culinary vision, recipes, plating standards, and overall food quality.
- Maintain consistency across every dish through strong systems, training, and quality control.




- Lead service from the kitchen and ensure excellent communication between BOH and FOH teams.
- Oversee purchasing, receiving, inventory, product rotation, and supplier relationships.
- Manage food cost, labour cost, waste, portion control, and kitchen productivity.
- Monitor kitchen financial performance and take proactive steps to improve profitability without compromising quality.
- Maintain accurate ordering, inventory, prep, and production systems.
- Develop and continuously improve kitchen procedures, prep systems, recipes, and service standards.
- Collaborate with ownership on seasonal menus, features, menu development, special events, and new culinary initiatives.
- Ensure the kitchen consistently meets or exceeds all food safety, sanitation, WorkSafeBC, and Vancouver Coastal Health requirements.
- Maintain an exceptionally clean, organized, safe, and professional kitchen.
- Partner closely with Front-of-House leadership to create seamless service and an outstanding guest experience.
- Identify, develop, and mentor future culinary leaders within the organization.

What We're Looking For

- Minimum 4years of progressive culinary leadership experience , ideally as a Head Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or experienced Senior Sous Chef.
- Strong background in upscale casual, premium casual, or fine dining environments.
- Experience working with premium proteins, steaks, seafood, and up-to-date contemporary cuisine is highly desirable.
- Strong understanding of modern culinary techniques, kitchen organization,



and high-volume service.
- Proven ability to manage food costs, labour budgets, purchasing, inventory, waste, and kitchen productivity .
- Strong leadership skills with a genuine ability to coach, motivate, and develop people.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Calm, professional, and solution-focused leadership style during high-pressure services.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
- Robust understanding of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
- FoodSafe Level 1 certification required; Level 2 is considered an asset.
- Legally authorized to work in Canada.

What We Offer

- Competitive salary , negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
- Performance-based bonus opportunities.
- Extended health benefits.
- Staff meals and dining discounts.
- Professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
- Direct involvement with ownership and the opportunity to contribute ideas.
- Opportunity to influence menu development and culinary direction.
- Career growth opportunities as NOVA continues to expand.
- A supportive ownership team that values quality, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and excellence .

Join NOVA

We are looking for more than someone to simply manage a kitchen. We want a culinary leader who takes ownership of their operation, develops great people, maintains exceptional standards, understands the business behind the food, and takes pride in creating memorable guest experiences. If you are passionate about food, hospitality, leadership, and building successful kitchen teams, we would love to hear from you.

NOVA is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

📌 HEAD CHEF - NOVA Kitchen & Bar. (Port Moody)
🏢 Nova Kitchen & Bar
📍 Port Moody