Sous Chef - High-Volume, Upscale Casual Kitchen

Sous Chef – High-Volume, Upscale Casual Kitchen at Goodwin Recruiting summary:

The Sous Chef leads back-of-house operations in a fast-paced upscale casual kitchen, focusing on team development, culinary excellence, and operational efficiency. Responsibilities include supervising staff, training, managing labor and food costs, and maintaining high standards of food safety and quality. The role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, creativity, and effective communication to support restaurant goals.

Sous Chef – High-Volume, Upscale Casual Kitchen

We are seeking a hands-on, people-first Sous Chef to support back-of-house leadership in a fast-paced, upscale casual environment. This role is ideal for a culinary professional who thrives on coaching teams, driving operational excellence, and contributing to both creativity and profitability.

What You’ll Do

Kitchen Leadership & Team Development

• Directly supervise BOH hourly staff while fostering a culture of learning, accountability, and creativity
• Lead onboarding and ongoing training to ensure consistency, professionalism, and culinary execution
• Serve as a role model through strong work ethic, punctuality, and high standards

Operations & Financial Performance

• Support labor planning, scheduling, and staffing to align with budgeted production levels
• Understand P&L statements and actively contribute to profitability improvements
• Monitor labor, food, beverage, and controllable costs; identify variances and implement corrective action plans

Culinary Execution & Quality

• Demonstrate advanced culinary skills while training and mentoring the kitchen team
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef on recipe development and menu planning
• Ensure smooth shift execution, consistent ticket times, and flawless plate presentation through strong expediting

Standards, Safety & Systems

• Uphold strict food quality, handling, sanitation, and safety standards
• Manage waste tracking, storage practices, and product rotation to minimize loss
• Establish and follow SOPs, oversee opening/closing procedures, and ensure BOH security

Cross-Functional Communication

• Maintain professional, proactive communication with front-of-house leadership
• Support restaurant objectives, strategies, and departmental goals with disciplined time management

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of experience in high-volume, upscale casual kitchens
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to coach and develop teams
• Solid understanding of kitchen financials and operational controls
• Organized, self-directed, and accountable with excellent communication skills
• Creative, innovative, and passionate about hospitality and service

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to stand and remain mobile for up to 8 hours per shift
• Capability to lift up to 15 lbs regularly and up to 50 lbs occasionally
• Comfort with frequent use of kitchen equipment, POS, and computer systems
• Manual dexterity and physical stamina required for a professional kitchen environment

Keywords:

Sous Chef, kitchen leadership, culinary skills, food safety, team development, menu planning, operational efficiency, labor management, upscale casual dining, restaurant management