Executive Sous Chef

Sodexo Live!; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sodexo Live! in Louisville, KY is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to support the Executive Chef in overseeing culinary operations for daily service and major events.

This role leads kitchen staff, manages menu planning, food prep, and presentation, ensuring top-quality experiences for guests at sports and other events.

You will mentor staff, enforce safety standards, control inventory and costs, and contribute to recipe development and continuous kitchen improvement.

Qualifications

• Culinary leadership with kitchen supervision and cost control.
• Menu planning for banquets, events, high-volume production.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with inventory control, ordering, and labor cost management.
• Hands-on cooking, plating, and maintaining quality and presentation.
• Excellent communication with culinary, FOH, and events teams.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary operations for Louisville Cardinals football team.
• Menu planning, food preparation, and presentation for events.
• Supervise kitchen staff, training, and performance management.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and cost control.
• Ensure food safety and sanitation compliance.
• Coordinate with front-of-house and event staff.
• Contribute to new recipe development and event menus.
• Maintain high-quality, consistent culinary experiences.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

Inventory control

Hands-on cooking

Communication

Adaptability

Formal culinary training

Education

Formal culinary training

Job description

Company Description Sodexo Live! delivers more than world-class sports, leisure, and travel experiences by creating memorable moments that surprise and delight guests. The company focuses on enriching lives and turning venues and events into unforgettable experiences through exceptional service and culinary innovation. Team members benefit from deep industry insight and expertise designed to help partners boost revenue growth and reach their full potential. Working at Sodexo Live! means contributing to positive guest emotions and helping elevate every event experience.

Role Description The Executive Sous Chef is a full-time, on-site role based in Louisville, KY. This position supports the Executive Chef in overseeing all culinary operations for the Louisville Cardinals Football Team, including menu planning, food preparation, and presentation for daily service. The Executive Sous Chef supervises kitchen staff, ensures adherence to food safety and sanitation standards, manages inventory and ordering, and helps control food and labor costs. The role involves hands‑on cooking, training and mentoring team members, coordinating with front‑of‑house and event staff, and maintaining high-quality, consistent culinary experiences. This position also contributes to new recipe development, special event menus, and continuous improvement of kitchen processes.

Qualifications

• Culinary leadership skills, including supervising kitchen teams, delegating tasks, and supporting performance management.
• Menu planning and execution skills, including experience with banquets, events, high-volume food production
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation standards, and regulatory compliance in professional kitchens.
• Experience with inventory control, ordering, and basic cost management for food and labor.
• Proficiency in hands‑on cooking techniques, plating, and maintaining consistent quality and presentation.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with culinary, front‑of‑house, and event operations teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment, prioritize multiple tasks, and adapt to changing event needs.
• Formal culinary training or equivalent professional kitchen experience; prior experience in hospitality, events, or large‑scale food service is highly beneficial.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by event schedules.