About the Job

Head Private Chef

Part-Time, On-Site | Portland, Maine + surrounding areas

About Amanda Palmas Cookbook LLC

Amanda Palma’s Cookbook is a boutique private chef company in Southern Maine, creating elevated in-home dining experiences, weekly meal prep, and intimate events. We cook the way we’d want to be cooked for: seasonal, ingredient-driven, and sourced from local farms, fisheries, and producers that make Maine’s food culture worth celebrating. Our clients come to us because they value beautiful, personal food without the work of planning, shopping, cooking, or cleaning. We are in an exciting season of growth, and are building a small team of exceptional people to grow with us.

The Role

We are looking for a skilled, reliable Private Chef who wants to “own“ a kitchen, not just work in one. You will lead client experiences from beginning to end, from menu development through flawless execution, while bringing warmth, polish, and calm to every event. This role is ideal for a chef who thrives both independently and in front of clients, and who wants real room to grow as the business does.

You’re the Kind of Chef Who…

• Cooks with intention, you think about seasonality, sourcing, and presentation as much as flavor
• Brings hospitality and intention to clients’ kitchens 
• Thinks in systems, prep lists, timelines, mise en place, so nothing is left to chance
• Cares deeply about where food is sourced and believes local and sustainable is worth the effort
• Wants to grow into more responsibility, more leadership, and ownership of events over time

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and execute customized menus for private clients, including weekly meal prep and in-home dining experiences
• Prepare high-quality, seasonal meals with a focus on locally and sustainably sourced ingredients
• Lead on-site kitchen execution in clients’ homes with professionalism and efficiency
• Own the full workflow: menu planning → sourcing → prep → execution → cleanup
• Shop intentionally, prioritizing local farms, fisheries, and specialty purveyors
• Adapt menus for dietary needs and preferences (gluten-free, dairy-free, allergies, etc.)
• Maintain a clean, organized, systems-driven kitchen environment
• Oversee food safety standards, storage, and transport logistics
• Communicate clearly and warmly with clients to ensure an exceptional experience
• Manage per-client ingredient inventory and budgets
• Stay current on culinary trends and nutrition to keep our menus evolving

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional cooking experience (private chef, catering, or restaurant)
• Strong foundation in seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking
• Experience adapting recipes and creating original menus
• Confidence to plan, prep, and execute meals independently and as part of a team
• Strong grasp of dietary accommodations and ingredient substitutions
• Excellent time management, organization, and communication
• A professional, polished, client-focused presence
• Genuine passion for local food systems, sustainability, and quality
• Flexibility to accommodate varying client schedules
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle 

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods
• Current food handler’s certification (ServSafe or equivalent), or willingness to obtain before start date
• Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check (a disclosure and authorization form will be provided beforehand)

About You:

• Wants to be part of building something bigger than a shift-by-shift kitchen, someone who sees private dining as an experience, a craft, and a brand worth growing.
• Has a deep love for both creativity and execution, someone who gets excited about creating menus, refining details, elevating presentation, and delivering an experience guests remember.
• Is a proactive, hands-on leader who can step into any part of the process, from prep and service to client communication and kitchen organization, while helping raise the standard around them.
• Thinks beyond the plate, understanding that hospitality is built through consistency, organization, attention to detail, and the small moments that make clients feel taken care of.
• Has a growth mindset and hunger to improve, constantly looking for ways to sharpen technique, bring fresh ideas, and push what’s possible in a private dining environment.
• Brings an owner’s mentality, someone who takes pride in the work, treats every event with intention and thoughtfulness, and wants to help build a company clients trust and return to.

How to Apply

Send your résumé and fill out the form above. We’d love to hear what cooking means to you.

Amanda Palmas Cookbook LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This is an at-will employment position. Nothing in this posting constitutes a guarantee of employment or a contract of any kind.

We believe a great hospitality team is built through respect, inclusion, collaboration, and a shared passion for creating exceptional experiences.