Job Description

Overview

A prestigious private family in New York is seeking an exceptional Private Chef with extensive professional culinary experience to oversee all culinary requirements of the household and manage the kitchen end to end. The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of high end restaurant and private family experience, ideally with a background in Michelin starred or Michelin recognized kitchens or other world class fine dining environments. The role requires the preparation of exceptional daily cuisine tailored to the family's preferences, lifestyle, and dietary requirements, with particular strength in healthy, flavorful, and nutritionally balanced cooking. Broad knowledge of international cuisines and the ability to create sophisticated menus without compromising taste, presentation, or quality are essential. The family has a strong preference for Indian cuisine, so expertise in this area is a top priority. The position also involves frequent VIP entertaining, private dinners, and formal events. The Chef should be comfortable cooking for high profile and discerning guests while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, hygiene, and service.

Creativity, meticulous attention to detail, adaptability, collaboration, and composure under pressure are essential, along with the ability to work seamlessly within a private household and alongside household management and service staff. The Chef will be responsible for running the kitchen end to end, including menu planning, food procurement, inventory, kitchen organization, food safety, and daily culinary operations. This position requires flexibility to accommodate the family's schedule, including weekends, holidays, and extended hours.

The family recently relocated to New York and currently has a small household team, so the right candidate should come in with a family first mindset, not a team lead mentality. This is a full time role, 5 days per week, approximately 50 to 60 hours weekly, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Responsibilities

Culinary Operations

• Prepare exceptional daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and other meals
• Create healthy, flavorful, and nutritionally balanced cuisine tailored to the family's dietary requirements and preferences
• Bring strong expertise in Indian cuisine alongside broad knowledge of international cuisines
• Develop seasonal and bespoke menus using premium and specialty ingredients
• Maintain consistently high standards of taste, presentation, creativity, and execution
• Adapt menus seamlessly to changing family preferences, dietary requirements, schedules, and ingredient availability

Events and Entertaining

• Design bespoke menus and multi course meals for private dinners, VIP entertaining, and formal events
• Cater confidently for high profile, business, and diplomatic guests
• Execute both intimate family meals and larger scale private events to the same high standard
• Collaborate with household and service teams to ensure seamless event execution

Household Management

• Source and procure the highest quality ingredients from trusted suppliers
• Manage kitchen inventory, food costs, equipment, and kitchen organization
• Maintain impeccable food safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards
• Coordinate seamlessly with household staff as the team continues to grow

Travel and Logistics

• Accompany the family during domestic and international travel as required, with occasional extended trips of up to 3 weeks
• Adapt culinary operations to different locations, kitchens, schedules, and ingredient availability

Confidentiality and Professional Standards

• Maintain complete confidentiality and discretion regarding the family, guests, schedules, and household affairs; adhere strictly to household privacy, security, and access protocols
• Willingness to undergo comprehensive pre-employment background and health screenings, including medical, psychological, and toxicology assessments, along with mandated annual vaccinations

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in Indian cuisine strongly preferred, along with mastery of a broad spectrum of international cuisines
• Demonstrated history in Michelin starred or Michelin recognized kitchens preferred, supported by a minimum of 8+ years in world class fine dining or equivalent high caliber environments; a decade of professional expertise is highly desired
• Formal culinary degree or a recognized standard of professional gastronomic education
• Extensive background serving within a private household or elite private service capacity is particularly advantageous
• Comfortable working within a small, still growing household team, not a management role
• Adaptable, low ego, and understanding of the household's early stage team structure
• Health conscious approach to cooking

Requirements

• Full legal eligibility to work in the United States, independent of sponsorship requirements
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including trips of up to 3 weeks
• Comprehensive understanding of national food safety protocols and hygiene standards, accompanied by a valid ServSafe credential
• Strong verifiable references, subject to reference and background verification

Salary and Benefits

• $130,000 to $180,000 per year