Corporate Executive Chef

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHEF — THE OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY

Define the vision. Lead the craft. Build the culture.

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer Location: Charlotte, NC (Relocation Required) Position Type: Salaried, Full-Time

ABOUT OMB

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) is one of Charlotte's most beloved destinations — and one of the Southeast's most recognized craft beer brands. Founded in 2009, OMB brews exclusively to the German Purity Law of 1516 — Reinheitsgebot — which requires every beer be made with only four ingredients: water, barley, hops, and yeast. That standard of tradition and authenticity runs through everything we do, including the food we serve alongside it.

Our original location sits in Charlotte's Lower South End (LoSo) and features a state-of-the-art production facility, a full-service restaurant, and a one-acre biergarten. In Spring 2024, we expanded with a second location in Ballantyne — a two-story, 14,000-square-foot restaurant and biergarten built to host even more of our community. OMB has been voted USA Today's Best Biergarten in America, and our beers are distributed across North Carolina through an independent wholesaler network.

OMB is proud of its community involvement and its place in Charlotte's beer scene — an iconic representation of German brewing tradition in the South. Two additional biergarten locations are planned over the next three years.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is not a desk role. It is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a seasoned multi-unit culinary executive who wants to set the standard — in the kitchen, on the menu, and across a growing team of culinary professionals.

As our Corporate Executive Chef, you will own the culinary identity of OMB across all current and future locations. You will lead Executive Chefs and Sous Chefs, not just line cooks. You will design menus that pair thoughtfully with world-class German lagers. You will build the systems, training programs, and kitchen cultures that will scale as OMB grows — and you will do it with your hands in the food, your eyes on the numbers, and your name on the standard.

The ideal candidate has already operated in a multi-unit or corporate culinary leadership role, with direct oversight of chef-level staff across more than one location. You understand P&L, you have opened kitchens, and you thrive in a chef-driven, hospitality-first environment. A genuine passion for craft beer and community-rooted dining is a real plus.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Culinary Leadership

• Provide hands-on strategic oversight for all culinary operations across multiple locations — you will cook, taste, and set the standard daily.
• Develop, implement, and enforce operational standards, recipes, and safety protocols across all kitchens.
• Manage kitchen P&L and drive profitability through effective cost control and process improvement.
• Partner with GMs and Operations leadership to align culinary execution with company goals.
• Lead quarterly culinary performance reviews, audits, and team meetings.
• Maintain rigorous health, sanitation, and safety standards across all facilities.

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation

• Design and execute creative, high-quality menus for Tap Room dining, Garten Grill, and catering operations that complement OMB's craft beer portfolio.
• Balance consistency and innovation — honoring OMB's authentic brand while evolving its culinary identity season to season.
• Oversee recipe costing, food presentation, and product sourcing to ensure premium quality and efficiency.
• Evaluate emerging culinary trends and integrate appropriate innovations into OMB's offerings.

Multi-Unit Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and hold accountable a team of Executive Chefs and Sous Chefs across multiple locations — this is a leader-of-leaders role.
• Recruit, train, and develop high-performing culinary talent with clear career pathways.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and professional kitchen culture rooted in teamwork, accountability, and craft.
• Conduct performance evaluations and implement ongoing training and recognition programs.

Strategic Growth & Expansion

• Collaborate with leadership on the design, layout, and equipment selection for new kitchens and future locations.
• Develop training programs and SOPs built to scale — not just for today's two locations, but for tomorrow's four.
• Establish culinary specifications and standard operating procedures for future OMB locations.
• Identify technologies and tools that enhance kitchen performance and guest experience.

Culture & Collaboration

• Embody and champion OMB's core values: Quality, Integrity, Service, Pride, Leadership, and Teamwork.
• Partner cross-functionally with front-of-house leaders to ensure an exceptional guest experience.
• Actively contribute to company strategy sessions, L10 meetings, and leadership initiatives.

YOU ARE...

A career culinarian who has spent your years in chef-driven, hospitality-first environments. You have led other chefs — not just cooks — and you can name the people you have promoted. You are as comfortable in a biergarten at 2pm on a packed Saturday as you are in a budget review on Monday morning. You geek out over food-and-beer pairing. You have built kitchen cultures from scratch and you know what it takes to maintain them across more than one location at a time. You do not manage from a distance — you show up, you cook, and you lead by example.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Minimum 5 years in a multi-unit or corporate culinary leadership role, with direct oversight of Executive Chef-level staff across at least 2 concurrent locations.
• 15+ years of progressive culinary experience in high-volume, chef-driven restaurant environments.
• Proven track record of managing P&L and driving measurable financial performance.
• ServSafe certification required.
• Strong computer proficiency (Excel, Word, XtraChef or similar systems).
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Willingness to relocate to Charlotte, NC.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.

Preferred:

• Culinary degree or equivalent formal culinary training strongly preferred.
• Experience in brewery, biergarten, or craft beverage hospitality environments.
• Experience opening new restaurant or kitchen concepts from the ground up.
• Advanced culinary certification (CEC or equivalent).

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• Competitive salary with quarterly performance-based incentive plan
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-paid long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off
• Beer stipend and employee discount on food, merchandise, and beer

OMB CORE VALUES

01 — Dedication to quality, no shortcuts 02 — Integrity, do the right thing 03 — Service-minded 04 — Point of pride in the community 05 — Lead, don't follow 06 — Team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

All candidates must pass a pre-employment / post-offer background check. Applications are reviewed regularly for both locations; if we'd like to move forward, HR will reach out via phone or email. Positions are posted and maintained regularly — if you have not received communication from HR, we may not have an open position at this time, but may contact you for a future one. OMB participates in E-Verify for employment verification. OMB is an equal opportunity employer that hires individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities.

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery • Charlotte, NC • Since 2009 • oldemeckbrew.com