Executive Sous Chef

Wegmans Food Markets; Town of Pittsford (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Overtime pay premium

Health care benefits

401(k) match

Scholarship program

LiveWell program

Job summary

Wegmans Food Markets is seeking an Executive Sous Chef for Next Door in Pittsford, NY to join the culinary leadership team and help plan, prepare, and deliver high-quality menu offerings that delight guests.

You will lead and develop culinary team members, refine seasonal menus, and oversee daily kitchen operations, inventory, food safety and profitability, partnering with the executive chef and development chefs for new recipes and tasting menus.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as a sous chef.
• Experience in upscale or fine dining environments.
• Commitment to exceptional quality, presentation, and service.
• Proven experience in kitchen management: team development, inventory control, food cost, and scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team of employees, providing resources, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Lead and work with culinary team in daily food prep and service to ensure quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Create and refine seasonal menu offerings informed by guest feedback, trends, market insights, and business objectives.
• Lead execution of private events, special dinners, and other dining experiences.
• Develop culinary talent through hands-on coaching and ensuring recipe standards and best practices.
• Foster collaboration between front-of-house and back-of-house to deliver exceptional guest experiences and operations.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations including staffing, food quality, inventory, ordering, and safety standards.
• Monitor financial performance, product trends, and operational metrics to drive sales and control costs.
• Address challenges and lead the team through changing priorities for smooth operation.

Skills

Sous Chef

Team Leadership

Menu Development

Food Safety

Cost Control

Education

Bachelor's degree in culinary arts

Job description

The executive sous chef at Next Door serves as the culinary leader the kitchen, supporting the executive chef in the planning, preparation, and delivery of high-quality menu offerings that create an exceptional guest experience. This role helps ensure efficient and profitable kitchen operations while leading and developing culinary team members. In partnership with the executive chef and development chefs, the executive sous chef supports the testing and introduction of new recipes and brings them to life through daily menu offerings and the Tasting Menu.

What You'll Do

• Manage and develop a team of employees, engage in meaningful conversations, build trusted relationships and provide the resources, feedback, and development opportunities they need to be successful
• Lead and work alongside culinary team members in daily food preparation and service, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation standards
• Create and refine seasonal menu offerings and specials informed by guest feedback, culinary trends, market insights, and business objectives.
• Lead the execution of private events, special dinners, and other unique dining experiences
• Develop culinary talent through hands‑on coaching, skill building, and feedback while ensuring recipe standards, job aids, and culinary best practices are consistently followed
• Foster strong collaboration between front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house teams to deliver an exceptional guest experience and efficient restaurant operations
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, including staffing, food quality, inventory, ordering, food safety, and human safety standards
• Monitor financial performance, product trends, and operational metrics to drive sales, control costs, and improve profitability
• Address operational challenges, resolve issues effectively, and lead the team through changing priorities while maintaining a smooth and productive operation

Required Qualifications

• 2 or more years of experience as a sous chef
• Experience working in a variety of positions in upscale or fine dining restaurant
• Commitment to maintaining exceptional standards of quality, presentation, and service
• Proven experience in kitchen management. Managing and developing a team, overseeing inventory control, food cost control and employee scheduling

Preferred Qualifications

• Diverse culinary experience, including working with a variety of food in a variety of regions and/ or cultures
• Bachelor's degree in culinary arts

At Wegmans, we’ve always believed we can achieve our goals only if we first fulfill the needs of our people. Putting our people first and offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits and a wide range of meaningful perks is just the beginning of what defines a rewarding career at Wegmans.

Comprehensive benefits*

• Paid time off (PTO) to help you balance your personal and work life
• Higher premium pay rates for working overtime, on Sundays, or on a recognized holiday
• Health care benefits that provide a high level of coverage at a low cost to you
• Retirement plan with a 401(k) match
• A generous scholarship program to help employees meet their educational goals
• LiveWell Employee & Family program to support your emotional, work-life and financial wellness

Our employees have put us high on Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list every year since it was first produced in 1998. Discover what it means to work for a mission-driven, values-based company where YOU make the difference.

• Certain eligibility requirements must be satisfied, and offerings may differ based upon area or the company and/or position.