Sous chef

Vida-Plena-Hospitality; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Performance bonus

Group discounts

Mental health partner

Wellbeing activities

Team-building events

Career progression

Job summary

Vida Plena is seeking a skilled Sous Chef to join our Lisbon kitchen, acting as second-in-command and translating the Head Chef’s vision into daily execution. You will mentor the team, uphold high standards across all stations, and ensure efficient operations for peak performance.

We value 5–7 years of leadership, mastery of all stations, and expertise in menu engineering, cost control, labor management, and waste analytics, with strong English and a willingness to communicate with suppliers in

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive kitchen leadership with multi-station oversight.
• Certified Chef de Cuisine or national equivalent.
• Strong command of English; another language for supplier communication is a plus.
• Experience in menu engineering, cost control, labour management, and waste analytics.
• Knowledge of inventory software and kitchen tech.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and service flow.
• Mentor the team and ensure high standards across stations.
• Lead menu rollouts and training for new menus.
• Monitor food costs, portions, and yield; adjust as needed.
• Handle supplier relationships and quality issues.
• Step onto the line during peak periods.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and local labor laws.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Multi-station oversight

Menu engineering

Cost control

Labour management

Waste analytics

Inventory software

P&L basics

KPI dashboards

Conflict resolution

Calm under pressure

English fluency

Education

Chef de Cuisine certification

Tools

Inventory software

Procurement apps

KPI dashboards

Job description

Sous chef

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.