Executive Sous Chef

Proper Hospitality; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Proper Hospitality’s Santa Monica property seeks an Executive Sous Chef to partner with the Executive Chef on culinary excellence in a 267-room luxury hotel. You will lead, mentor, and shape menu development with an emphasis on seasonality and guest-centric dining.

Based in Santa Monica, you will oversee kitchen operations, maintain quality standards, manage costs, and collaborate with F&B for events, ensuring superb service for discerning guests.

Qualifications

• Experience in luxury hotel kitchen environments.
• Strong leadership and team development abilities.
• Knowledge of current luxury hospitality trends and guest expectations.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef with menu planning, development and execution with focus on seasonality, sustainability and innovation.
• Ensure consistency in quality, taste and presentation of all dishes.
• Supervise, mentor and train kitchen staff; oversee kitchen operations in the absence of the Executive Chef.
• Monitor food safety, sanitation and hygiene standards; manage inventory and procurement to minimize waste.
• Collaborate with F&B for events and private dining; engage with guests to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Skills

Leadership

Luxury hospitality

Revenue management

Digital marketing

Market dynamics

Communication

Flexibility

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent

Job description

Join the iconic Santa Monica Proper Hotel, where historic charm meets contemporary luxury in the heart of Santa Monica. A seamless merger of historic retrofit and new construction, our 267-room boutique hotel showcases stunning interior design by international style icon Kelly Wearstler, tantalizing dining options by local culinary stars, and a show-stopping rooftop lounge and swimming pool. With 16,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space, we create unforgettable experiences for our guests.

Position Overview

The Executive Sous Chef works closely with the Executive Chef to ensure the highest level of culinary excellence. This role combines creative input with operational leadership, ensuring every dish aligns with our standards ofquality, innovation and guest satisfaction.

• Assist the Executive Chef in menu planning, development, and execution with a focus on seasonality, sustainability and innovation
• Ensure consistency in quality, taste and presentation of all dishes
• Act as a creative partner to the Executive Chef, contributing fresh ideas to enhance the culinary offering
• Supervise, mentor and train kitchen staff, fostering a culture of excellence and teamwork
• Oversee kitchen operations in the absence of the Executive Chef
• Conduct regular staff performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback
• Monitor kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food safety, sanitation and hygiene standards
• Manage inventory and procurement to minimize waste while maintaining optimal stock levels
• Collaborate with the Food & Beverage team to coordinate special events, banquets, and private dining experiences
• Engage with guests to personalize dining experiences and accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences
• Ensure guest feedback is promptly addressed and used to enhance offerings and service
• Assist in managing food cost budgets and achieving revenue targets
• Identify opportunities to optimize efficiency and control operational expenses

Education

• Culinary degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of progressive culinary experience, including 3+ years kitchen management role

Skills and Competencies:

• Exceptional leadership and team development abilities
• Deep understanding of the luxury lifestyle hotel market trends and customer preferences
• Familiarity with revenue management principles and digital marketing strategies
• Knowledge of local market dynamics and competition.
• Knowledge of luxury hospitality trends and best practices
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Capable of lifting up to 50 pounds
• Work in varying temperature conditions
• Available to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• $120,000-130,000

Why Join Proper Hospitality

At Proper, we build experiences that move people — and that begins with the team behind them. As a best-in-class employer, we’re committed to creating one of the Best Places to Work in hospitality by nurturing a culture where creativity, excellence, and humanity thrive together.

Everything we do is grounded in the belief that hospitality is more than a profession - it’s an opportunity to care for others and make lives better. Guided by the Pillars of Proper, we show up with warmth and authenticity (Care Proper), strive for excellence in everything we do (Achieve Proper), think creatively and resourcefully (Imagine Proper), and take pride in the style and culture that make us who we are (Present Proper).

We believe our people are our greatest strength, and we invest deeply in their wellbeing, growth, and sense of belonging. From comprehensive benefits to meaningful development programs, Proper is designed to help you build a career, and a life, that feels as inspiring as the experiences we create for our guests.

Our Commitment: Building the Best Place to Work

Our Best Place to Work initiative is a living commitment — a continuous investment in our people, our culture, and our purpose. We listen, learn, and evolve together to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to imagine boldly, achieve confidently, care deeply, and present themselves authentically.

At Proper, joining the team means more than finding a job — it means joining a community that believes in building beautiful experiences together, for our guests and for one another.

Proper Hospitality is an equal-opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other federally or state-protected category

We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local Fair Chance Hiring Ordinances