Executive Chef, Winchester Club – Winchester, MA

About the Club

“The entire history of the Winchester Country Club is fraught with evidence that it was founded, and has continued, on the proposition that among the durable satisfactions of life, the chief is human relationships at their best.” These words from club president Ralph Bonnell, who spoke on the occasion of the club’s 50th anniversary in 1952, continue to resonate today. As Bonnell referenced for members, the land on which the club resides has long brought together people of many walks to share in the blessings of life, nature, and each other.

The Winchester Country Club seeks a highly skilled, forward-thinking Executive Chef who is both a strong culinarian and an inspirational, people‑focused leader. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional financial acumen, strong human resources capabilities, and a natural ability to recruit, develop, and retain top culinary talent. A true mentor and “coach at heart,” the Executive Chef fosters a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

As the face of culinary operations, and with a new clubhouse and kitchen renovation scheduled for 2027, the Executive Chef must be equally comfortable engaging in the kitchen and the dining rooms, interacting with a wide range of members, guests, and employees. The Executive Chef will understand member dining preferences and continue to develop the culinary program and offerings to meet and/or exceed member expectations.

Serving as a positive catalyst for the club’s culinary program, the Executive Chef is driven by pride and plays a vital role in shaping memorable dining experiences and is an integral contributor to the overall success of the club’s operations.

The Executive Chef will step into a forward-thinking management team that earned exceptional praise from our membership in the 2022 survey—momentum that now propels us into a $19 million clubhouse and kitchen renovation. Among our eight department managers, five have joined within the last four years, bringing fresh energy and innovative ideas that blend seamlessly with the seasoned leadership of our long‑tenured team.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the next chapter of a club that is growing, evolving, and firmly committed to excellence.

This team is fully embracing the evolution of the Club: honoring our history and traditions while leaning into a forward-thinking, relevant clubhouse and kitchen design scheduled to begin construction in 2027. Joining us ahead of the renovation will give the successful candidate the opportunity to evaluate our culinary team, influence the final details of the new kitchen layout, and gain valuable insight into the membership’s tastes and preferences over the course of a full season.

Our culinary staff is energetic, eager, and enthusiastic about welcoming their next leader. The membership is equally excited and supportive, looking forward to fresh ideas and continued growth.

As with most private clubs, we have established committees that provide strategic guidance while staying out of day‑to‑day operations.

• Develop recipes and techniques for food preparation and presentation which help to assure consistency and high quality; exercises portion control over all items served and assists in establishing menu prices.
• Organize and develop systems to ensure a smooth food service operation.
• Ensure that high standards of sanitation, cleanliness, and safety are always maintained throughout all kitchen areas. This includes daily site visits to all outlets.
• Be hands‑on and directly supervise the cooking of items that require skillful preparation.
• Evaluate job performance of the culinary staff; coach and counsel to ensure staff is on the right track and rewards and disciplines staff in a fair and appropriate manner.
• Have management and administrative skills with the ability to communicate with staff, other department heads and the membership.
• Demonstrate values, conduct, and integrity consistent with the caring philosophy in place. Set the example for professionalism when working and communicating with the service and catering staff.
• Prepare…