Head Chef / Kitchen Manager — Ottawa Venues

Ottawa, ON | Full-Time

Ottawa Venues is looking for experienced Head Chefs and Kitchen Managers to join our growing restaurant group.

We operate a diverse portfolio of restaurants and hospitality concepts across Ottawa, and we're looking for strong culinary leaders who can take ownership of a kitchen, develop their teams, maintain high standards, and deliver consistent operational results.

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who is ready to take on greater responsibility and build a long-term career within a larger hospitality group.

The Role

As a Head Chef or Kitchen Manager with Ottawa Venues, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and performance of your kitchen.

This is a hands-on leadership position. We're looking for someone who is comfortable working alongside their team while also managing the operational side of the business.

Responsibilities may include:

- Leading, coaching and developing the kitchen team
- Managing daily kitchen operations and service execution
- Maintaining consistent food quality, presentation and portion standards
- Managing food cost, labour cost and kitchen productivity
- Scheduling and managing BOH labour
- Ordering, inventory management and supplier relationships
- Managing prep levels, production and kitchen organization
- Maintaining recipe, portion and plating standards
- Monitoring waste and identifying cost-control opportunities
- Recruiting, training and retaining strong kitchen employees
- Maintaining food safety, sanitation and workplace standards
- Working closely with the General Manager and restaurant leadership team
- Supporting menu development and operational improvements
- Creating a positive, accountable and professional kitchen culture

Who We're Looking For





We're interested in meeting culinary leaders who understand that running a successful kitchen requires more than being a strong cook.

The right candidate will be someone who:

- Has previous Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or comparable leadership experience
- Is comfortable leading and holding a team accountable
- Understands food cost, labour management, inventory and kitchen profitability
- Is organized and capable of managing a busy kitchen operation
- Maintains high standards for food quality, cleanliness and consistency
- Communicates well with both BOH and FOH leadership
- Can recruit, train and develop kitchen employees
- Takes ownership of their operation and solves problems proactively
- Enjoys being hands-on during prep and service
- Wants to continue developing as a culinary and hospitality leader

Experience in high-volume restaurants is an asset.

Formal culinary education is welcome but not required. Leadership ability, operational knowledge and a strong track record in professional kitchens are more important to us.

Why Ottawa Venues?

Joining a restaurant group provides opportunities that can be difficult to find within a single independent restaurant.

Our culinary leaders have access to a broader network of chefs, operators, suppliers and resources, along with opportunities to grow into larger roles as our group continues to develop.

We are looking for people who want to build something, develop robust teams and continue progressing within the hospitality industry.

If you're an experienced kitchen leader looking for your next opportunity — or a strong Sous Chef ready to take the next step — we'd like to hear from you.

Apply with your resume and a brief introduction outlining your current role, leadership experience and what you're looking for next.

Pay: $50,000.00-$65,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

📌 Kitchen Manager/Head Chef - hiring multiple locations (Ottawa)
🏢 Ottawa Venues
📍 Ottawa