Executive Sous Chef | Full-Time | Regions Arena

Oak View Group; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

401(k) matching

Paid Time Off

11 holidays

Job summary

Oak View Group is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to lead the Mobile Convention Center kitchen operations for pre-opening readiness and future Regions Arena events. You will manage food production, costs, and staff, while ensuring top‑tier guest experiences and strict safety standards.

Based initially in Mobile, AL with eventual primary duties at Regions Arena, this on-site role requires flexibility for evenings, weekends, and holidays and a focus on mentorship, training, and operational

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of kitchen management experience.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and extended hours.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations and ensure adherence to OVG policies.
• Manage event planning support, scheduling, and food preparation.
• Control food and labor costs through effective planning and procedures.
• Ensure quality, consistency, and safety across all menus and service.
• Train and develop kitchen staff; mentor and maintain high morale.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance and cleanliness for readiness.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Food safety

Team coordination

Tools

MS Word/Excel/Outlook

Job description

Oak View Group

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.

Position Summary

The Executive Sous Chef will oversee the direction of the kitchen’s daily activities in accordance with OVG policies and objectives to ensure guest satisfaction, profitability and a positive, productive and compliant work environment. Responsible for assisting the Executive Chef with the overall kitchen operations, including food and labor cost controls. The Executive Sous Chef is responsible for the effective management and operation of the public food culinary team including event planning support, scheduling, food preparation and production, food cost control, compliance with food safety and sanitation policies, cleaning, kitchen safety, employee training and supervision, and any other tasks assigned by the GM or Executive Chef. The Executive Sous Chef will provide oversight and resolution responsibility for employee performance issues. The Executive Sous Chef must provide a high level of event oversight, culinary proficiency and operational/personnel support to ensure the smooth running of any assigned event. A critical function of the Executive Sous Chef will be to actively mentor, train and help employees meet company quality standards, and to promote a positive, enthusiastic and cooperative work environment. This is a key position for the effective and profitable operation of the business. The Executive Sous Chef must maintain excellent attendance and be available to work a variable event-driven schedule which to evenings and weekends. Open availability, professional presentation, outstanding interpersonal skills and self-direction required.

Location & Schedule

This position will initially be based at the Mobile Convention Center to support pre-opening planning, operational readiness, and training for the Regions Arena. Upon the arena's opening in early 2027, the primary work location will transition to the Regions Arena. This is an on-site position and may occasionally provide operational support at the Mobile Convention Center and the Saenger Theatre as business needs require. Standard business hours apply; however, this position requires flexibility to work an event-driven schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Regular attendance, professional presentation, and the ability to support venue operations during peak event periods are essential.

Salary

This role pays an annual salary of $60,000-$65,000

Benefits for Full-Time roles

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

Job Opening Deadline

This position will remain open until November 13, 2026.

About The Venue

The Regions Arena is a state-of-the-art, 10,000-seat entertainment venue currently under construction in downtown Mobile, Alabama, with a planned opening in early 2027. Designed to become the premier destination for live entertainment and community events along the Gulf Coast, the arena will host a wide variety of events, including professional hockey, concerts, family shows, regional and national sporting events, community gatherings, and Mobile's annual Mardi Gras celebrations. The arena will feature premium hospitality offerings, including luxury suites, club spaces, loge boxes, and more than 27,000 square feet of flexible multi-purpose and pre-function space, creating exceptional experiences for guests and event partners alike.

Responsibilities

• Ensures budgeted food percentages are achieved through effective control measures including portion controls, kitchen timings, food inventory rotation measures, receiving and food storage procedures, inventory controls, effective purchasing procedures, kitchen security procedures, and waste control for all public food events.
• Controls labor costs through effective scheduling of Public Foods kitchen staff, cross-training, and development of employees.
• Ensures that the purchasing and preparation of all food products meet OVG’s standards of quality and consistency. Responsible for the development of menus, ensuring quality, consistency, and style of concept are maintained. Monitors production of food preparation, ensuring recipe specifications, portion controls, and kitchen timings are met. Monitors all food served relative to appearance, temperature, sanitary, and quality standards.
• Supervises all line setup, prep, and breakdown activities. Responsible for in-service delegation of tasks to line personnel.
• Coordinates the storage, maintenance, and repair of all kitchen equipment to ensure operational readiness.
• Assists with the delivery and set-up of catered services and food service areas as needed.
• Training and development, including departmental orientation of new employees. Provides leadership and support to the entire kitchen staff; builds morale and encourages empowerment of staff.
• Maintains a positive and compliant employee relations climate. Responsible for staffing, training, evaluation, and counseling of Public Foods kitchen staff. Promotes support and communication with entire staff. Positively interacts with front-of-house staff. Rapidly solves problems.
• Ensures compliance with health, sanitation, safety, and employment regulations by clearly communicating and reinforcing standards and procedures to kitchen staff.
• Assists the Executive Chef in fulfilling kitchen record-keeping and administrative requirements, including food inventories and invoicing of food products. Responsible for organizing employee work schedules, ensuring appropriate coverage for all kitchen areas.
• Promotes teamwork among staff through effective communication, follow-through, and goal setting. Leads by example and thorough instruction to effectively obtain quality management of product, service and philosophy of concept
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of kitchen management experience in a full-service restaurant or events venue.
• Technical proficiency and experience demonstrating verifiable knowledge of food preparation methods.
• Ability to positively interact with diverse personalities, including co-workers, subordinates, guests, and purveyors in a variety of work situations.
• Must have active listening and effective communication skills.
• Ability to develop results-oriented staff through effective training, evaluation, motivation, coaching, and counseling.
• Ability to assist others in developing needed skills for effective job performance.
• Ability to positively distribute responsibility to others to meet objectives and achieve desired results.
• Ability to recognize problems and to creatively and expeditiously find solutions.
• Ability to set priorities and use initiative; solid decision-maker.
• Ability to be detail-oriented, multitask, and effectively prioritize in a continuously changing environment.
• Ability to be self-directed while working in a team-oriented environment.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and extended hours as needed.
• Demonstrated and verifiable track record of meeting projected costs.
• Professional appearance and presentation required.
• Knowledge of and skill in using computer software, including MS Word/Excel/Outlook.
• Maintains a current food handler's card and alcohol service permit if required by state or local government.
• Working knowledge of employee scheduling in a hospitality environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain certification in a nationally recognized sanitation program.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.