Centini Restaurant is seeking an accomplished, hands-on culinary leader to join our kitchen as Chef de Cuisine or Senior Sous Chef, depending on experience and leadership capability.
This is a key operating role for a chef who takes pride in disciplined execution, exceptional ingredients, strong kitchen systems, and developing a team that performs consistently at a high level.
Centini is an established, independent Italian restaurant in downtown Calgary. For more than two decades, we have built our reputation on made-to-order cooking, house-made pasta, premium seafood and meats, polished private dining, and genuine hospitality. We are not a corporate concept, a volume-driven chain, or a kitchen built around shortcuts.
We are looking for a chef who values the same things we do: craft, standards, organization, accountability, and respect for the guest.
The Opportunity
The successful candidate will work closely with ownership and culinary leadership to direct daily kitchen operations, maintain food quality, lead service, develop the brigade, and ensure that Centini’s standards are delivered consistently.
This is not an administrative role removed from the line. The right chef will be visible, composed, organized, and fully engaged in preparation and service.
The title and scope of the position will reflect the experience of the successful candidate. A strong Senior Sous Chef who is ready to advance will be considered alongside experienced Chef de Cuisine candidates.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead kitchen preparation and service with confidence, urgency, and professional composure.
- Maintain uncompromising standards for flavour, presentation, temperature, timing, and consistency.
- Organize daily production, station assignments, prep priorities, and service readiness.
- Supervise, coach, and develop cooks through clear direction and practical, hands-on training.
- Establish accountability without creating unnecessary drama or confusion.
- Work the line and step into any station when required.
- Support menu development, feature planning, recipe costing, and seasonal changes.
- Maintain accurate recipes, yields, portion standards, and production procedures.
- Manage ordering, receiving, inventory, product rotation, and waste control.
- Protect food cost while preserving quality and portion integrity.
- Maintain high standards of sanitation, food safety, equipment care, and kitchen organization.
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and staff development.
- Coordinate effectively with the front-of-house and events teams.
- Execute private dining, corporate functions, set menus, and special events with the same discipline applied to regular service.
- Identify operational problems early and bring forward practical solutions.
The Chef We Are Looking For
You are a mature culinary professional who understands that leadership is demonstrated through preparation, consistency, communication, and personal example.
You do not need to be micromanaged. You notice what needs attention and act on it. You understand the difference between being busy and being productive. You can hold standards firmly without losing control of the kitchen or diminishing the people around you.
You are likely to succeed in this role if you:
- Have substantial experience in a quality-driven, full-service restaurant kitchen.
- Have held a Sous Chef, Senior Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or comparable leadership position.
- Possess strong technical cooking skills and sound knowledge of classical and contemporary kitchen methods.
- Have experience with Italian or Mediterranean cuisine, handmade pasta, seafood, premium proteins, or refined à la carte service.
- Understand food costing, inventory management, labour planning, purchasing, and waste reduction.
- Can organize a kitchen for both regular service and complex private events.
- Communicate clearly and respectfully with cooks, servers, managers, suppliers, and ownership.
- Can train less-experienced cooks while maintaining appropriate expectations.
- Remain calm and decisive during demanding services.
- Care about cleanliness, maintenance, mise en place, and the condition in which the kitchen is left for the next shift.
- Want to contribute to the success of an established independent restaurant rather than simply hold a title.
What This Role Is Not
This position is not suited to someone who:
- Avoids working the line.
- Confuses aggression with leadership.
- Requires constant reminders or supervision.
- Accepts inconsistent food because the restaurant is busy.
- Ignores food cost, waste, cleanliness, or equipment care.
- Is looking for a temporary stop while deciding what to do next.
What Centini Offers
- A senior culinary leadership position in a respected, long-established Calgary restaurant.
- Direct access to ownership and the ability to influence kitchen operations.
- A menu and service model built around real cooking rather than assembly.
- An established private-dining and corporate-events business.
- The opportunity to improve systems, develop people, and make a visible contribution.
- A professional environment where standards and accountability matter.
- Compensation beginning at $25/ hour based on experience and scope of responsibility.
- A mostly fixed schedule
Application
Please submit a résumé and a brief introduction outlining:
- Your current or most recent culinary leadership role.
- The type of kitchen in which you have done your best work.
- The size and composition of the team you have led.
- Your experience with food costing, ordering, inventory, and staff development.
- Why Centini is the right next step in your career.
Applications without relevant professional kitchen leadership experience will not be considered.
Centini Restaurant
Downtown Calgary, Alberta
Centini welcomes applications from qualified candidates and is committed to respectful, inclusive hiring. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process upon request.
Pay: From $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
