Cafe Lunette - Sous Chef

Cafe Lunette; Halifax; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Extended Health & Dental benefits

Transit pass reimbursement

RRSP contributions

Uniform and dining allowance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Café Lunette, a Freehand Hospitality brand in Halifax, is seeking a skilled Sous Chef to lead daily kitchen operations in collaboration with the Chef de Cuisine. You will ensure consistency, quality, and staff development in a vibrant, French-inspired dining environment.

The role requires 2–3 years in a leadership kitchen position, a culinary degree or equivalent experience, and a strong grasp of cooking techniques, safety, and inventory management. Evening/weekend availability is expected.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years proven experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar leadership role.
• Culinary degree or equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience is an asset.
• A strong understanding of cooking techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations.
• The ability to lead and inspire a team in a fast-paced, high pressure environment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• A strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A commitment to quality, consistency and cleanliness.
• Experience with inventory management, ordering, and waste/cost control.
• Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing a culinary vision aligned with the brand identity.
• Supervising kitchen staff during service, ensuring accurate meal preparation and completion of tasks.
• Communicating the restaurant's vision to all team members and leading by example.
• Ensuring quality standards are consistently met.
• Supporting the chef de cuisine and executive chef in managing kitchen costs, including food waste and portion control.
• Recruiting, training, mentoring, and managing kitchen staff, fostering a positive and professional environment.
• Inspiring the team with an exciting vision for the restaurant's future.
• Consistently monitoring kitchen operations and cleanliness.
• Building and maintaining relationships with team members and front of house management alike.
• Adjusting orders to resolve any issues related to food quality or timing.
• Following proper ordering, inventory and receiving procedures.
• Showing leadership in creating a culture that revolves around the experience and enjoyment of food and cooking.
• Demonstrating high personal integrity, business ethics and taking every opportunity to promote the restaurant.
• Participating in recruitment and selection, training and development initiatives as well as performance management and employee coaching.
• Using conflict/resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Such other related duties and responsibilities as may be required from time to time.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Cooking techniques

Food safety

Inventory management

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

Sous Chef at Café Lunette with Freehand Hospitality

About Freehand Hospitality

Rooted in chef-led creativity, our team is passionate about bringing people together with bold flavours, thoughtful ingredients, and warm, welcoming service. We celebrate diverse culinary styles-from upscale Maritime dining to classic French fare-paired with genuine hospitality that leaves a lasting impression. Every dish tells a story, and every experience celebrates connection, community, and a true sense of place in Halifax.

About Café Lunette

Café by day, bistro by night, we proudly play host to morning coffee and viennoiserie, breezy business lunches, weeknight rendezvous, lazy Sunday brunches and everything in between. Our menus feature a greatest hits list of timeless French classics- from traditional onion soup and steak tartare, to comforting boeuf Bourguignon and seafood bouillabaisse. On weekends, we invite our guests to rise and shine for a rich variety of pastries, crêpes, galettes and breakfast sandwiches.

Job Description

We are looking for a skilled Sous Chef at Café Lunette tojoin our culinary team and work closely with our Chef de Cuisine to lead daily kitchen operations, ensure consistency and quality, and support the development of our culinary team.

What you will be doing as a Sous Chef:

• Developing and executing a culinary vision aligned with the brand identity;

• Supervising kitchen staff during service, ensuring accurate meal preparation and completion of tasks;
• Communicating the restaurant's vision to all team members and leading by example;
• Ensuring quality standards are consistently met;
• Supporting the chef de cuisine and executive chef in managing kitchen costs, including food waste and portion control;

• Recruiting, training, mentoring, and managing kitchen staff, fostering a positive and professional environment;

• Inspiring the team with an exciting vision for the restaurant's future;
• Consistently monitoring kitchen operations and cleanliness;
• Building and maintaining relationships with team members and front of house management alike;
• Adjusting orders to resolve any issues related to food quality or timing;
• Following proper ordering, inventory and receiving procedures;
• Showing leadership in creating a culture that revolves around the experience and enjoyment of food and cooking;
• Demonstrating high personal integrity, business ethics and taking every opportunity to promote the restaurant;

• Participating in recruitment and selection, training and development initiatives as well as performance management and employee coaching;

• Using conflict/resolution and problem-solving skills;

• Such other related duties and responsibilities as may be required from time to time.

The person we are looking for has:

• 2-3 years proven experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar leadership role in a professional kitchen;
• Culinary degree or equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience is an asset;
• A strong understanding of cooking techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations;
• The ability to lead and inspire a team in a fast-paced, high pressure environment;
• An excellent organizational and time management skills;
• A strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• A commitment to quality, consistency and cleanliness;
• Experience with inventory management, ordering, and waste/cost control;
• Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Why join us and what's in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive extended Health & Dental benefits
• Integrated learning environment with room to grow
• Access to our gym and fitness facility
• 50% reimbursement of monthly transit pass
• Company RRSP contributions
• Uniform and dining allowance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Eligible for company referral bonus program
• Working along side a collaborative team of likeminded individuals

A member of The Armour Group Ltd, Freehand Hospitality is an equal opportunity employer. We value our employees and their well-being. If you would like to join an organization with which you can have a work-life balance, career growth, long term job stability, and an opportunity to positively contribute to the community, this position may be for you!