Culinary | Sous Chef - Arriba Abajo

Thompson Hotels; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & welfare plans

401(k)

College Savings

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off

Family bonding time

Adoption assistance

Room discounts at Hyatt

Free meals

Well-being assistance

Job summary

Thompson Austin is seeking a hands-on Chef de Cuisine to lead daily kitchen operations in Arriba Abajo, our Cantina-style concept inside Thompson and Tommie Austin.

You will guide breakfast, brunch, and lunch with a focus on quality, consistency, and guest experience while mentoring a strong kitchen team.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant or hotel kitchen.
• Experience leading breakfast/brunch service strongly preferred.
• Strong supervisory and coaching abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead breakfast, lunch, and select dinner services on the line.
• Expedite during peak periods for smooth service.
• Supervise food preparation, quality, and timing.
• Maintain strong BOH/FOH communication across teams.
• Support senior culinary leadership with daily ops.
• Serve as liaison between culinary and other departments.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute events and special functions.
• Develop creative menu items aligned with brand standards.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Brunch service leadership

Expediting on peak service

Food cost control

Inventory management

Scheduling & labor planning

Menu development

Strong communication

Education

Culinary education or equivalent

Tools

Birchstreet purchasing system

Job description

Organization - Thompson Austin - 5th and Brazos

Summary

The Role

At Hyatt, we believe our guests select Hyatt because of our caring and attentive associates who are focused on providing efficient service and meaningful experiences.

Arriba Abajo is a Cantina-themed Bar and Restaurant, inside the Thompson and Tommie Austin, two premier lifestyle hotels in Downtown Austin – This new concept will open in early Spring to include 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining and lounge space, multiple venue’s for private events and the pool deck servicing hotel guests and Residents.

This position is designed as a stepping stone toward a Chef de Cuisine role within 1–2 years for the right individual. This leader is hands‑on, service‑focused, and responsible for driving daily culinary operations, supporting financial performance, and developing a strong, engaged kitchen team within a branded restaurant environment inside a lifestyle hotel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead breakfast, lunch, and select dinner services with a hands‑on presence on the line
• Expedite during peak service periods and ensure smooth execution
• Supervise preparation and cooking of food items, ensuring quality, consistency, and timing
• Maintain strong BOH/FOH communication and cross-department collaboration
• Support senior culinary leadership by assuming day-to-day management responsibilities
• Act as liaison between culinary and other hotel departments
• Plan, coordinate, and execute special events and holiday functions
• Develop and implement creative menu items aligned with Hyatt and brand standards

Operational Ownership

• Own ordering, inventory, and vendor communication
• Manage weekly scheduling and labor alignment
• Conduct monthly inventory and monitor food cost
• Build and maintain pars, prep lists, and structured line check systems
• Monitor daily food production, ordering, and quality standards
• Ensure proper safety and sanitation of all kitchen facilities and equipment

Financial Accountability

• Assist in managing food cost and reducing waste
• Align staffing levels to forecasted volume and labor targets
• Maintain awareness of budget goals and operational efficiencies
• Ensure proper use of Hyatt purchasing systems

Team Leadership & Culture

• Train, mentor, and coach culinary team members
• Manage hourly kitchen employees including scheduling, payroll, training, coaching, evaluating, and hiring
• May supervise culinary supervisors and other junior Sous Chefs
• Participate in hiring and onboarding efforts
• Lead the team toward exceptional guest service and colleague satisfaction results
• Build a culture of urgency, accountability, pride, and professionalism
• Model Hyatt values and brand standards while fostering team growth and retention

Who You Are

• A hands‑on leader who prefers being in service, not behind a desk
• Confident expediting and running busy brunch services
• Organized and systems-minded (pars, prep lists, line checks, station readiness)
• Calm under pressure with strong communication skills
• Financially aware and operationally accountable
• Motivated to grow into a Chef de Cuisine role
• Energized by a branded restaurant environment within a lifestyle hotel

The Hotels

When you stay at a Thompson Hotel, you are welcome as a resident. With intuitive service, each guest is provided a tailored experience, enhancing your personal travel journey and bridging connections to the local perspective. Thompson’s unique hotels are timeless destinations, creating distinctive experiences that transform your day, your trip, or even your life. Thompson Austin offers 212 luxury guestrooms and Suites plus 17 residences along with a 10,000 square foot wellness center, 3 restaurant + bar concepts, an expansive pool deck, and private cabanas, and over 10,000 square feet of flexible and traditional event space.

The 193-king room tommie Austin is built for the spirited adventurer. Guest will be encouraged to explore Austin’s unparalleled offerings and in every square foot, tommie is an opportunity to meet and be inspired. Where art and atmosphere seep in from the surrounding neighborhood, and collaborations seep back out. tommie will feature a bespoke coffee and wine shop and allow guests to be the master of their own stay while still offering warm and authentic service.

Both hotels are anchored on the ground floor by our re‑imagined cantina-themed restaurant, a 13,000 sq ft. indoor and outdoor oasis as well as The 5th Street Diner + The Royale Room. a street-side concept serving daily fare for locals, residents, and guests alike. This mixed‑use project will also feature a residential tower – Sienna – and 10,000 square feet of retail space and a 7,000 sq. ft. state of the art fitness center and simulator room, appropriately named the “T” Box.

The Benefits & Perks

We have you covered with an awesome rewards package! Health and welfare plans? We have a range of choices for you and your eligible dependents. Financial wellbeing? Got it! Opt into our 401(k) plan, College Saving Plan, or Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Oh, and we don’t want to leave out our lifestyle benefits! Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave, paid Family Bonding Time, Adoption Assistance, discounted and complimentary rooms at Hyatt locations across the globe, free colleague meals during shifts, well-being & educational assistance, and many more!

Qualifications

• 1–2+ years of leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant or hotel culinary environment
• Experience leading breakfast and brunch service strongly preferred
• In‑depth knowledge of kitchen operations, food production, and service execution
• Proven ability to confidently expedite service in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience with ordering, inventory management, scheduling, and labor alignment
• Foundational understanding of food cost control and basic financial management
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and relationship‑building skills
• Experience training, coaching, and developing culinary team members
• Ability to produce a consistent, high-quality product in a timely manner
• Demonstrated commitment to exceeding guest expectations in a service‑driven environment
• Proficient in general computer systems and kitchen‑related technology
• Culinary education and/or equivalent on‑the‑job training preferred; hotel experience a plus
• Flexible schedule, including availability for mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Geographic and schedule flexibility preferred

Preferred

• Branded restaurant experience
• Lifestyle hotel experience
• Familiarity with Birchstreet or similar purchasing platforms
• Experience in multi‑outlet environments
• Leadership Competencies
• Drives results through operational discipline
• Builds trust through consistency and accountability
• Leads with professionalism and integrity
• Embraces feedback and continuous improvement
• Champions safety and sanitation standards

This is not your typical career opportunity.

This is the Hyatt Touch.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.