Executive Sous Chef

Compass Group USA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Job summary

Wolfgang Puck Catering is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to lead kitchen operations in a high-profile Houston setting, alongside the Executive Chef. You will mentor culinary teams, craft menus, and ensure the highest standards of food quality and service.

This role emphasizes collaboration with marketing and culinary colleagues, cost control, and delivering memorable guest experiences through innovation and hospitality excellence.

Qualifications

• Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, Hospitality, or related field.
• Experience leading kitchen teams in high-volume hospitality, restaurant, catering, entertainment, or special event environments.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation methods, and kitchen operations.
• Demonstrated understanding of food cost management, inventory control, purchasing, and budgeting practices.
• Ability to adapt quickly and successfully manage changing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing culinary team members.
• Commitment to food safety, sanitation, and operational excellence.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Outlook, email, and web-based systems.
• Strong communication, customer service, and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for hospitality, culinary innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations and culinary execution.
• Ensure high-quality food is prepared and presented creatively while maintaining cost-effective practices.
• Assist with menu planning, purchasing, inventory management, and food production.
• Support financial objectives by monitoring food costs, labor utilization, and operational expenses.
• Collaborate with culinary and marketing teams to implement new programs, menus, and dining experiences.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen environment that meets all health and safety standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop back-of-house team members through training, mentoring, and ongoing support.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work culture focused on teamwork and professional growth.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, portioning, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Assist with special events, catering functions, and operational needs as required.

Skills

Team leadership

Culinary techniques

Communication skills

Cost control

Adaptability

Food safety

Mentoring

Guest service

Menu development

Operations knowledge

Education

Culinary Arts / Food Service Management degree or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

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Other Forms of Compensation:Comprehensive Benefit Package

Where Passion Meets Purpose - and Careers Come Alive

At Wolfgang Puck Catering, great careers are crafted the same way great food is — with passion, intention, and the right people around you. We hire for curiosity, spirit, and heart, and we invest in everything you bring to the table. Through mentorship, real development, and a clear path to leadership, we're committed to your journey — not just your job title.Come be part of something that challenges and champions you in equal measure.

"I can have the best food, but if we don't have good people, it won't get you very far." — Wolfgang Puck

Success on our team starts with our culture:

• We have Wolfgang’s PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
• A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.
• Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
• We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don’t have to.
• We curate company and partner resources to bring our client’s vision to life. We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
• We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).
• Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.

"I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far."

Job Summary

Join Wolfgang Puck Catering as an Executive Sous Chef and play a key leadership role in delivering exceptional culinary experiences at a premier, high-profile destination in Houston. This position offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment where innovation, hospitality, and culinary excellence come together to create memorable guest experiences.

Working alongside the Executive Chef, you will help lead kitchen operations, inspire culinary teams, and ensure the highest standards of food quality, presentation, safety, and service. This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary professional who enjoys mentoring others, developing creative menu offerings, and contributing to the success of a dynamic hospitality operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations and culinary execution.
• Ensure high-quality food is prepared and presented creatively while maintaining cost-effective practices.
• Assist with menu planning, purchasing, inventory management, and food production.
• Support financial objectives by monitoring food costs, labor utilization, and operational expenses.
• Collaborate with culinary and marketing teams to implement new programs, menus, and dining experiences.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen environment that meets all health and safety standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop back‑of‑house team members through training, mentoring, and ongoing support.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work culture focused on teamwork and professional growth.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, portioning, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Assist with special events, catering functions, and operational needs as required.

What We're Looking For

• Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, Hospitality, or a related field; equivalent professional culinary training and experience will also be considered.
• Experience leading kitchen teams in high-volume hospitality, restaurant, catering, entertainment, or special event environments.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation methods, and kitchen operations.
• Demonstrated understanding of food cost management, inventory control, purchasing, and budgeting practices.
• Ability to adapt quickly and successfully manage changing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing culinary team members.
• Commitment to food safety, sanitation, and operational excellence.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Outlook, email, and web-based systems.
• Strong communication, customer service, and relationship‑building skills.
• Passion for hospitality, culinary innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Wolfgang Puck Catering is a member of Compass Group USA

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Associates at Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Personal Leave
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Wolfgang Puck Catering maintains a drugfree workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws . For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.