Chef de Cuisine Copper Bar

At Mauna Kea Resort, exceptional dining experiences begin with inspired leadership, culinary creativity, and a deep connection to Hawaiʻi's culture and ingredients. Copper Bar is one of the Kohala Coast's most beloved gathering places, celebrated for its open-air grandeur, relaxed sophistication, and breathtaking ocean views. Featuring locally sourced ingredients—including produce grown in our own ʻUlu Garden—Copper Bar offers an innovative menu of tapas, sushi, handcrafted cocktails, curated wines, and island-inspired favorites that reflect the flavors and traditions of Hawaiʻi.

With nightly live slack key guitar, traditional hula performances, and generations of history woven into every guest experience, Copper Bar is more than a restaurant—it is a destination. We are seeking a Chef de Cuisine who can honor this legacy while driving culinary innovation, operational excellence, and exceptional team performance.

This role is ideal for a passionate and visionary culinary leader who thrives in a dynamic, guest-focused environment. The Chef de Cuisine will oversee all culinary operations for Copper Bar, ensuring every dish reflects our commitment to quality, consistency, creativity, and authentic hospitality. From menu development and cost management to mentoring culinary talent and elevating the guest experience, this position plays a vital role in shaping one of Hawaiʻi Island's premier dining destinations.

Our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth. We empower our leaders to inspire their teams, champion innovation, and create a positive workplace where excellence is recognized and professional development is encouraged.

As a Hawaii Business Magazine “Best Places to Work” recipient for five consecutive years, we are committed to investing in our people through competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, career development opportunities, recognition programs, and outstanding travel perks through Marriott and Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

If you are an accomplished culinary professional who is passionate about local ingredients, innovative cuisine, and creating memorable guest experiences through exceptional leadership, we invite you to join our team and help shape the next chapter of Copper Bar’s storied legacy.

As Chef de Cuisine, you will oversee the daily culinary operations of Copper Bar while supporting the Executive Chef in ensuring exceptional food quality, financial performance, team development, and operational efficiency. You will lead, mentor, and develop culinary team members while maintaining the highest standards of food preparation, presentation, sanitation, safety, and guest satisfaction. This role requires a strong combination of culinary expertise, business acumen, leadership capability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Oversee the daily operation of the Copper Bar kitchen and culinary team.
• Supervise, schedule, and direct cooks and other kitchen personnel to ensure efficient operations.
• Assist the Executive Chef in establishing and implementing food, labor, and operational cost controls.
• Monitor and review daily food and labor costs to ensure financial goals are achieved.
• Hire, train, coach, evaluate, counsel, and discipline culinary team members in accordance with company policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, safety standards, and operational guidelines.
• Review and refine menus, recipes, and kitchen procedures to improve quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Develop innovative menu offerings that align with current culinary trends and guest expectations.
• Oversee food preparation and production for restaurant and employee dining operations as assigned.
• Ensure proper inventory management, ordering practices, and product utilization.
• Routinely inspect kitchen equipment and facilities, coordinating maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Manage departmental labor expenses and operating costs.
• Respond to and resolve employee and guest concerns promptly and professionally.
• Review, approve, and verify departmental…