Specialist Chef Italian Cuisine Pizza Specialist

Job Description:

Job Description

Liberty Pizzeria Inc. is seeking an experienced and skilled Specialist Chef with extensive knowledge of Italian cuisine, particularly traditional pizza preparation, dough-making techniques, recipe development, and commercial pizza oven operations.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and preparing high-quality pizzas and other Italian specialty dishes using established culinary techniques and fresh ingredients. The position requires specialized knowledge of pizza dough preparation, fermentation, dough stretching and shaping, sauce preparation, ingredient combinations, and baking techniques using a commercial electric deck pizza oven (PizzaMaster).

In addition to hands-on food preparation, the Specialist Chef will oversee kitchen operations, develop and maintain recipes, supervise and train kitchen staff, manage food and ingredient costs, and ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, and preparation standards.

This is a specialized culinary position requiring advanced practical cooking skills, independent judgment in recipe development, and leadership in maintaining the restaurant's culinary standards.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Plan, develop, and periodically update Italian-style pizza menus, specialty dishes, sauces, and complementary menu items in accordance with Liberty Pizzeria's culinary standards and customer preferences.

• Prepare and cook traditional and specialty pizzas from scratch, including preparing dough, developing sauces, selecting ingredients, assembling toppings, and baking pizzas to the required quality standards.

• Apply specialized pizza dough-making techniques, including ingredient measurement, dough mixing, kneading, fermentation, proofing, portioning, hand-stretching, and shaping to achieve the desired crust texture and consistency.

• Operate a commercial electric deck pizza oven (PizzaMaster), applying appropriate temperature settings, baking techniques, cooking times, and heat management to achieve consistent results.

• Develop, test, and refine pizza recipes, dough formulations, sauces, and other Italian specialty preparations to improve flavour, texture, presentation, and menu variety.

• Prepare and cook Italian specialty foods, sauces, and other menu items for regular restaurant service, special customer requests, and functions when required.

• Estimate food requirements and calculate the costs of ingredients, food supplies, and kitchen materials required for daily production and menu preparation.

• Estimate kitchen labour requirements and associated costs, taking into account food preparation needs, production volumes, and restaurant operations.

• Maintain accurate records of food costs, consumption, sales, inventory, and ingredient usage to support efficient kitchen operations.

• Review food production expenses, labour costs, ingredient usage, and other relevant operating information to identify opportunities for efficiency and cost control.

• Requisition food ingredients, kitchen supplies, and specialized pizza preparation materials to maintain adequate stock for daily restaurant operations.

• Instruct cooks and kitchen staff in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, portioning, and presentation of pizzas and other Italian specialty dishes.

• Demonstrate specialized pizza-making techniques, dough-handling procedures, cooking methods, and the proper operation of commercial kitchen equipment.

• Supervise cooks and other kitchen personnel during food preparation and service to ensure efficient workflow, proper task allocation, and adherence to established recipes.

• Train kitchen staff in food preparation techniques, pizza baking procedures, safe food handling, sanitation practices, and restaurant-specific kitchen standards.

• Monitor the quality, taste, texture, cooking consistency, portion sizes, and presentation of prepared foods to ensure compliance with Liberty Pizzeria's standards.

• Prepare or oversee the preparation of meals for customers with food allergies or dietary intolerances, following established food safety procedures and precautions against cross-contact.

• Coordinate kitchen activities during busy service periods, providing instructions and guidance to maintain food quality, timely preparation, and effective teamwork.

• Oversee inventory control, proper ingredient storage, stock rotation, and food waste reduction while maintaining food freshness and quality.

• Ensure that kitchen equipment, preparation surfaces, utensils, and cooking areas are maintained in accordance with applicable food safety and sanitation requirements.

Skills:

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Completion of a college, CEGEP, or other non-university certificate or diploma program lasting 3 months to less than 1 year.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional culinary experience, preferably involving Italian cuisine, specialty pizza preparation, and commercial restaurant kitchens.

• Valid Food Safety Certificate.

• Advanced knowledge of traditional and specialty pizza preparation, including dough formulation, fermentation, proofing, hand-stretching, shaping, and baking techniques.

• Practical experience operating commercial pizza ovens, including electric deck ovens, and understanding of temperature control, baking times, and heat distribution.

• Strong knowledge of Italian cuisine, pizza sauces, specialty ingredients, flavour combinations, and food presentation techniques.

• Ability to independently develop, test, standardize, and improve pizza recipes and other Italian specialty dishes.

• Experience in food costing, ingredient purchasing, kitchen inventory management, portion control, and minimizing food waste.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, and guide cooks and other kitchen staff.

• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, allergen management, and safe food handling requirements.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain consistent food quality in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining attention to detail and production standards.

• Effective leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively in English.

• Flexibility to work mornings, evenings, shifts, and on-call schedules as required.

Specialized Culinary Skills

The ideal candidate should possess specialized culinary knowledge and practical proficiency in:

• Traditional Italian pizza-making and specialty pizza recipe development.

• Preparation of pizza dough from raw ingredients, including dough hydration, fermentation, proofing, and texture control.

• Manual dough stretching and shaping to achieve consistent pizza bases.

• Preparation of authentic pizza sauces and complementary Italian food items.

• Selection and balancing of ingredients to achieve consistent flavour and cooking results.

• Operation of commercial electric deck pizza ovens, including the PizzaMaster system.

• Baking temperature management, cooking consistency, crust development, and quality assessment.

• Training kitchen employees in specialized food preparation and pizza-making techniques.

• Recipe standardization, ingredient costing, and kitchen production management.

Work Environment

The Specialist Chef will work in a busy Italian restaurant environment that requires hands-on culinary preparation, attention to detail, effective kitchen supervision, and the ability to maintain high-quality food standards during demanding service periods.

The position requires physical presence at the restaurant. Remote work is not available.

Apply Directly on libertypizzeria.ca@gmail.com

Requirements: