K-12 School Dining Sous Chef: Lead with Scratch Cooking

Compass Group, North America; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associates Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Flik Independent School Dining is seeking a Sous Chef to lead culinary operations within a dynamic K–12 school dining program. Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will assist with daily food production, menu development, catering execution, inventory management, and supervise hourly kitchen staff.

This role rewards an upbeat culinary professional with passion for scratch cooking, quality presentation, and student-focused nutrition, including strong cost control and food safety practices.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of dynamic culinary or kitchen management in high-volume operations (K-12, institutional, or contract dining).
• Strong catering experience and ability to lead special events.
• Knowledge of scratch cooking, batch production, and food cost controls.
• Understanding of food trends, seasonal ingredients, and sustainable practices.
• ServSafe Certification highly preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook, and internet tools.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with ownership and collaboration.
• Dedication to customer happiness and nutritious meals for students.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef in daily kitchen operations, including food prep, production, and supervising back-of-house staff.
• Support cost control via inventory management, ordering, and reducing waste.
• Help plan, develop, and implement menus aligning with standards and nutrition guidelines.
• Lead or support catered events with high quality food, presentation, and service.
• Implement new culinary programs in collaboration with the Executive Chef and corporate team.
• Ensure HACCP and allergy protocols are followed.
• Maintain high standards for cleanliness and organization in kitchen areas.
• Mentor hourly culinary staff to build skills and team culture.
• Foster a safe, inclusive kitchen reflecting school and company values.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen operations

Inventory management

HACCP

Catering experience

Cost control

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Flik Independent School Dining is seeking a Sous Chef to lead culinary operations within a dynamic K–12 school dining program. Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will assist with daily food production, menu development, catering execution, inventory management, and supervise hourly kitchen staff.

This role rewards an upbeat culinary professional with passion for scratch cooking, quality presentation, and student-focused nutrition, including strong cost control and food safety practices.