Sous chef

VIDA PLENA; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay from day one

Team performance bonus and fair tip

Group discounts across all venues

Mental health partner and wellbeing活动

Regular team-building events

Internal mobility and career growth

Job summary

Vida Plena, a Lisbon-based hospitality group, seeks a Sous Chef to translate the Head Chef’s vision into daily execution and drive kitchen performance.

You will mentor the team, maintain high standards across all stations, and ensure efficient operations at peak performance, with strong focus on cost control, menu engineering, and staff development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive kitchen leadership experience.
• Mastery of all stations; able to lead service personally when required.
• Experience in menu engineering, cost control, labour management and waste analytics.
• Familiar with inventory software, P&L basics and food-service tech.
• Strong emotional intelligence with decisive leadership and conflict resolution.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure during peak service.
• Certified Chef de Cuisine or national equivalent.
• Strong command of English (spoken and written) and another language for supplier communication.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and service flow
• Create prep schedules and allocate labour to match forecasted covers
• Coach section leaders and conduct performance check-ins
• Monitor food costs, portioning, and yield; adjust as needed
• Lead recipe rollouts, tastings, and training for new menus
• Ensure health & safety, allergen, and local labour law compliance
• Handle supplier relationships and resolve quality issues
• Step onto the line to support peak periods or cover absences

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Multi-station oversight

Menu engineering

Cost control

Labour management

Waste analytics

Inventory software

P&L basics

Leadership under pressure

English fluency

Education

Certified Chef de Cuisine (or national equivalent)

Tools

Inventory software

KPI dashboards

Procurement apps

Job description

Vida Plena is an innovative hospitality group founded in Lisbon in 2018, dedicated to making our guests and team feel truly at home. We pride ourselves on delivering warm, blissful experiences, fostering a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, serving top-quality fresh food, and providing exceptional service.

Our foundation is built on passion, respect, kindness, ambition, and modernity, alongside a commitment to joy, positive energy, and a laid-back approach to enjoying life's best moments. At Vida Plena, we embrace the true essence of hospitality while adhering to our core values, creating a fun, respectful, and loving environment for all.

The Role

As a Sous Chef, you act as second-in-command, translating the Head Chef’s vision into daily execution, driving kitchen performance, and ensuring operational excellence. You support and mentor the team, maintain high standards across all stations, and help the kitchen operate efficiently and consistently at peak performance.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and service flow
• Create prep schedules and allocate labour to match forecasted covers
• Coach section leaders and conduct performance check-ins
• Monitor food costs, portioning, and yield; adjust as needed
• Lead recipe rollouts, tastings, and training for new menus
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, allergen, and local labour laws
• Handle supplier relationships and quality-issue resolutions
• Step onto the line to support peak periods or cover absences

What We Expect From You

• Experience: 5–7 years of progressive kitchen leadership, including multi-station oversight.
• Mastery of all stations; able to lead service personally when required.
• Experience in menu engineering, cost control, labour management, and waste analytics.
• Familiarity with inventory software, P&L basics, and food-service tech (KPI dashboards, procurement apps).
• Strong emotional intelligence, decisive leadership, and effective conflict resolution.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and model composure during peak service.
• Certified Chef de Cuisine (or national equivalent).
• Strong command of English (spoken and written) and fluency in an additional language for supplier communication.

What's in For you?

At Vida Plena, you’re not just taking a position; you are joining a community that values joy, respect, and a collective pursuit of excellence. If you're prepared to bring your expertise, passion, and innovation to our team, we're excited to welcome you into our fold.

• A salary that respects your work — competitive pay from day one
• Performance that pays off — team performance bonus and fair tip distribution, because great service deserves real recognition
• Enjoy the experience yourself — group discounts for you and your guests across all our venues
• Wellbeing is a priority — a mental health partner and weekly activities on us, from yoga and boxing to meditation, keeping you energised on and off the floor
• Celebrations that bring us together — regular team-building events and group parties, because the best teams also know how to have fun
• Room to grow — be part of an expanding hospitality group with internal mobility and career progression opportunities.