Jobs in Cerritos California

Company Description

We're opening a 22-25 seat coastal wine bar and dining concept in the heart of Seal Beach, CA. Intimate format. Curated wine program. A heavy emphasis on great food and beautiful charcuterie boards -- many of which will be built for to-go -- alongside seasonal small plates and a menu designed around what's fresh and what pairs well. This isn't a corporate rollout. It's an independent, owner-operated restaurant being built from the ground up, and we need the right chef to make the kitchen their own.

Role Description

This is a full-time Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager role based on-site in Seal Beach, CA, with flexibility for off-site work during menu development and sourcing.

You'll be the first hire in this kitchen. Once you're on board, we'll build out the team around you -- a sous chef and prep staff -- but you'll have a voice in who joins your crew. That means you own the menu, the sourcing relationships, the plating standards, the food cost targets, and the kitchen culture from the start. You'll collaborate directly with ownership on concept direction, but the culinary vision is yours to build.

This role is built for an experienced sous chef who's ready to step into their first EC position and make a menu their own. If you've been running someone else's kitchen and you're itching to build your own program, this is that opportunity.

Here's the timeline: we get keys to the space around mid-May 2026 with minimal buildout needed since we're acquiring an existing restaurant. Friends and family test nights are targeted for June 3-4, with a soft open on June 10. We're moving fast and need someone who's energized by that pace, not intimidated by it.

Day to day, you'll be responsible for menu development and seasonal rotations, designing and executing a standout charcuterie program (dine-in and to-go), prep and service execution, kitchen hiring and team leadership, food cost and inventory management, health department compliance, and vendor relationships. The format is small and the team will be lean, so this is a hands-on cooking role, not a clipboard job.

What we offer

Competitive salary (ask us), plus a share of tips and a performance bonus structure. Health benefits available. Full creative ownership of the menu. The chance to be the founding chef of a new concept in one of the best beach towns in Southern California. Your name on the work from day one.

What we're looking for

3+ years of progressive kitchen experience, with meaningful time as a sous chef at a quality-driven restaurant. Strong experience with charcuterie and small plates is a major plus. You know how to run food cost, manage a small team, and keep a health department inspector happy. You cook because you love it, and you're ready to prove what you can do with your own kitchen.

At some point in the process, we'll need to taste your food. A paid trail day is part of how we find the right fit -- it goes both ways.

Must be based in Southern California. No relocation candidates.

Formal culinary training is a plus but not required. We care about what you can cook, not where you went to school.

How to apply

Send a message with your background and, if you have one, a link to your Instagram or any photos of your food. A resume is fine but a conversation is better.

Hybrid’s humble beginnings started in 1997 in the back of a print shop designing, selling, and printing tee shirts. Today, Hybrid is a global apparel industry powerhouse in brand and licensing management. Hybrid provides its expertise and fully vertical operations capability – design, merchandising, development, sourcing, production, and distribution – to a broad suite of branded, licensed, generic, and private label partners. Hybrid’s full-service apparel design and manufacturing expertise extends across the apparel category, including knits, woven tops, bottoms, tees, and accessories.

As our organization has evolved, so has our philosophy of doing business. We have made concerted efforts to remove ourselves from the antiquated approach of other apparel manufacturers and doing things differently has been our focus. We are building a company ethos that breeds innovation, collaboration, integrity, and excellence in customer service.

What is my role?

As a Designer, you are responsible for supporting the Design Director in all aspects of creating and executing monthly retailer presentations and special projects (from concept to final proto samples).

What You'll Do

• Assist the Design Director in creating styles from concept to completion; direct Associate Designers through line development
• Monitor development of preproduction samples in partnership with the Product Developer
• Work with Sales and Director to create direction in silhouette, fabric, and concept for specific retailers/market
• Ensure tracking of all samples as well as sample rack management/organization
• Attend and participate in fit sessions
• Contribute and give direction to team members to create a cohesive product line

What You'll Need

• Associates or Bachelors degree in Fashion Design, Merchandising, Textiles, Fine Art or related field
• 5-7 years of experience designing apparel
• Portfolio Required
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
• Garment construction and fabric knowledge
• Strong understanding of the screen-printing process, textile, finishing techniques, and basic garment construction
• Strong attention to detail and follow-up skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in accordance with the calendar
• Demonstrate strong verbal, organization and written communication skills
• Strong Team player who can work independently in a fast-paced environment
• A multi-tasker; proactively seeks out opportunities to support the Team with can-do and follow through attitude
• Timely sense of style, trends and market encompassing color, fabric, silhouettes, and graphics
• Knowledge of proto packages and working with overseas partners
• Artistic Hand, strong sense of color and style
• Strong working relationships with the teams through communications and problem solving

Hybrid Apparel is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.