Sous Chef

Position Summary

A prestigious upscale location is seeking a talented and passionate Sous Chef to support the culinary operations of its signature restaurant. This is an exceptional opportunity for a driven culinary professional who thrives in an upscale dining environment and is committed to delivering exceptional cuisine, innovative presentations, and memorable guest experiences.

The Sous Chef will work closely with the Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations, maintain exceptional food quality and consistency, develop culinary talent, and ensure the successful execution of the restaurant's culinary vision.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in fine dining, luxury hotels, or chef-driven restaurants, along with excellent leadership skills, creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Operations & Execution

• Support the Executive Chef in overseeing all daily culinary operations of the restaurant.
• Ensure consistent execution of menus, recipes, plating standards, and food presentation.
• Maintain exceptional standards for food quality, flavor, preparation, and consistency.
• Supervise food preparation and service during breakfast, lunch, dinner, or other meal periods as applicable.
• Maintain a strong presence on the line during service to ensure seamless kitchen execution.
• Ensure proper mise en place, preparation, organization, and station readiness.
• Maintain efficient kitchen operations during high-volume and peak service periods.
• Assist with banquet, private dining, and special culinary events as needed.

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation

• Collaborate with the Executive Chef on seasonal menus, daily specials, and new culinary offerings.
• Contribute creative ideas that reflect the restaurant's culinary identity and luxury positioning.
• Assist with recipe development, testing, standardization, and costing.
• Incorporate seasonal ingredients, premium products, and contemporary culinary techniques.
• Maintain awareness of emerging culinary trends and guest preferences.
• Partner with culinary leadership to continuously enhance the restaurant's dining experience.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, train, mentor, and motivate line cooks, prep cooks, and other culinary team members.
• Support the Executive Chef in establishing a positive, professional, and accountable kitchen culture.
• Conduct daily pre-shift meetings and communicate service expectations.
• Ensure culinary employees consistently follow established recipes, preparation methods, and presentation standards.
• Provide hands-on coaching and technical culinary training.
• Assist with scheduling, staffing, onboarding, and performance management.
• Promote teamwork and effective communication between culinary and front-of-house teams.
• Serve as the primary kitchen leader in the Executive Chef's absence, as assigned.

Luxury Guest Experience

• Maintain culinary standards consistent with a premier luxury hotel or fine-dining restaurant.
• Ensure every dish reflects exceptional attention to detail, presentation, and flavor.
• Partner with restaurant leadership to accommodate guest preferences, dietary restrictions, and special requests.
• Support VIP dining experiences, chef's tables, tasting menus, and special events.
• Address culinary concerns promptly and professionally.
• Maintain a strong commitment to guest satisfaction and service excellence.

Financial & Operational Management

• Assist the Executive Chef with food-cost management, labor productivity, purchasing, and inventory.
• Monitor food waste, portion control, production levels, and product utilization.
• Ensure proper ordering, receiving, storage, and rotation of ingredients.
• Maintain established food-cost targets without compromising culinary quality.
• Support efficient scheduling and staffing based on business levels.
• Participate in inventory counts and cost-control initiatives.
• Maintain appropriate kitchen equipment, supplies, and operating standards.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Maintain proper food handling, labeling, storage, temperature controls, and rotation.
• Enforce HACCP principles and established kitchen safety procedures.
• Maintain exceptional cleanliness and organization throughout the kitchen.
• Conduct regular inspections of workstations, refrigeration, storage areas, and equipment.
• Ensure culinary employees follow proper sanitation and workplace safety procedures.

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5+ years of progressive culinary experience in upscale restaurants, fine dining, luxury hotels, or comparable culinary environments.
• Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Junior Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, or senior culinary supervisor.
• Strong culinary foundation with advanced knowledge of cooking techniques, preparation methods, and presentation.
• Experience working in a high-quality, chef-driven restaurant environment.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate culinary teams.
• Strong understanding of food cost, inventory, purchasing, portion control, and kitchen productivity.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-expectation culinary environment.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP standards.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• Luxury hotel or Forbes Five-Star experience strongly preferred.
• Background in fine dining, Michelin-recognized, or highly acclaimed restaurants.
• Experience with seasonal, locally sourced, and premium ingredients.
• Strong knowledge of modern culinary techniques and elevated plating standards.
• Experience supporting tasting menus, chef-driven concepts, or private dining.
• Previous experience with banquet or hotel culinary operations.
• Culinary degree or formal culinary apprenticeship preferred.
• ServSafe certification or equivalent food safety certification.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a passionate, technically skilled, and hands-on culinary leader who takes pride in exceptional execution and understands the standards expected within a luxury hotel restaurant.

This individual should possess the culinary discipline required to deliver consistent, high-quality cuisine while also demonstrating creativity, leadership, and the ability to inspire a team.

The successful candidate will be:

• Passionate about exceptional food and fine dining.
• Highly skilled in culinary techniques and presentation.
• Detail-oriented and committed to consistency.
• Comfortable working alongside an accomplished Executive Chef.
• A strong mentor and leader for junior culinary employees.
• Calm and organized during demanding service periods.
• Knowledgeable about premium ingredients and seasonal cuisine.
• Financially conscious and operationally disciplined.
• Collaborative with front-of-house leadership.
• Eager to continue developing professionally within luxury hospitality.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Food quality and presentation consistency
• Guest satisfaction and culinary feedback
• Kitchen execution and service efficiency
• Food cost and waste management
• Labor productivity
• Food safety and sanitation compliance
• Culinary team development and retention
• Successful execution of special events and VIP dining
• Contribution to menu development and culinary innovation

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Sous Chef salary
• Performance-based bonus opportunity, where applicable
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) program
• Paid time off and holidays
• Hotel and dining privileges
• Employee meals
• Culinary training and professional development
• Relocation assistance, where applicable
• Career advancement opportunities within a premier luxury hospitality organization

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity for a talented Sous Chef with upscale or fine-dining experience to join the culinary leadership team of a distinguished luxury hotel restaurant.

• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work alongside accomplished culinary professionals, contribute to an exceptional dining program, and further develop their leadership skills within a sophisticated luxury hospitality environment.