Head Chef - Maine Cafe

As a Head Chef - Maine Cafe, you will lead venue culinary operations for the IDEXX Dining program. You will oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, including menu planning, food preparation, staff leadership, budgeting, inventory management, and culinary execution. You will collaborate closely with hospitality and dining leadership to deliver exceptional food experiences while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, efficiency, and guest satisfaction.

You will play a key role in driving culinary innovation, developing diverse menu offerings, leading and mentoring team members, and ensuring operational excellence across all dining services. By balancing creativity with cost management, you will help create a dining experience that reflects the values and culture of IDEXX while meeting the needs of employees and clients.

Why this role matters:

This role is critical to the success of the IDEXX Dining program by ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and innovative food experiences. Through strong leadership, operational oversight, and culinary expertise, you help create a welcoming dining environment that enhances employee satisfaction, supports organizational culture, and contributes to the overall guest experience. Your ability to develop talented teams, maintain financial discipline, and continuously improve dining operations directly impacts the success of the program.

In this role:

• You will lead, train, manage, and oversee daily kitchen operations to deliver high-quality breakfast, lunch, and snack offerings.
• You will ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, and food handling regulations and standards.
• You will develop and execute innovative menus that accommodate diverse dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-sensitive options.
• You will maintain a strong understanding of the top nine major food allergens to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all guests.
• You will monitor food costs, labor expenses, and waste to achieve departmental financial goals and operational efficiencies.
• You will manage purchasing, ordering, inventory control, and supplier relationships to ensure product quality and cost effectiveness.
• You will oversee kitchen workflow, organization, scheduling, and equipment maintenance to support efficient operations.
• You will foster a positive culture focused on teamwork, professional development, accountability, and culinary excellence.
• You will maintain ongoing communication and collaboration with the Executive Chef to align culinary strategy and operational objectives.
• You will ensure consistency and uphold high standards for food preparation, flavor profiles, cooking techniques, and presentation.
• You will manage team member payroll, timekeeping, attendance, paid time off, performance evaluations, and training activities.
• You will mentor and develop culinary team members through coaching, feedback, and professional growth opportunities.
• You will collaborate with Hospitality leadership to continuously enhance and elevate the IDEXX Dining program.
• You will engage with IDEXX employees and guests to understand dining preferences, gather feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• You will support a culture of continuous improvement by identifying operational enhancements and implementing best practices.
• You will uphold and promote IDEXX values and service standards in all interactions and business activities.

What you need to succeed:

• Culinary degree, hospitality management degree, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience (3-5 years) leading kitchen operations, culinary teams, and food service programs
• Strong knowledge of food preparation techniques, menu development, kitchen management, and food safety practices.
• Experience developing menus that accommodate dietary restrictions, allergen awareness, and diverse guest preferences.
• Strong understanding of food cost management, labor planning, inventory control, and budget administration.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing culinary teams.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to food quality, guest satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Experience conducting employee training, performance management, and workforce development activities.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• High attention to detail and commitment to maintaining consistent standards.
• Proficiency with payroll systems, inventory management tools, Microsoft Office, and standard business applications.
• ServSafe Certification or equivalent food safety certification preferred.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Primarily works in a commercial kitchen and food service environment with varying temperatures and moderate to high activity levels.
• Requires standing, walking, bending, lifting, and moving throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift and carry food products, supplies, and equipment in accordance with established safety guidelines.
• Frequent use of kitchen equipment, food preparation tools, computers, and other business technology.
• Exposure to hot surfaces, cooking equipment, refrigeration units, and food preparation environments.
• Ability to effectively perform duties in a fast-paced, team-oriented hospitality environment.
• Occasional schedule flexibility may be required to support business needs, special events, or operational demands.

What you can expect from us:

• An annual salary of $65,000 - $70,000

• Opportunity for annual cash bonus

• Opportunity for performance-based annual merit increase

• Health / Dental / Vision benefits starting day one

• 5% matching 401k

• Generous PTO benefits

• Additional benefits including but not limited to pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more!

Why IDEXX?

We’re proud of the work we do because our work matters. Every role at IDEXX contributes to enhancing the health and wellbeing of pets, people, and livestock. With over 10,000 global team members, customers in more than 175 countries, and a rapidly growing industry, we are always looking for motivated and inspiring individuals to join us.

We offer competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits, along with the opportunity to be part of a high-growth company leading the way with innovative products, services, and a strong customer focus.

Let’s pursue what matters together.

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.