Lead BBQ Sous Chef - Craft World-Class Smoke

Q39; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 62,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Q39 Lawrence in Lawrence, KS is seeking a Sous Chef to lead back-of-house operations and maintain high food quality in a high-volume kitchen. You will train staff, manage line checks, ordering, and ensure compliance with health standards to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

The role requires strong leadership, meat preparation skills, and programming with 7Shifts. Salary ranges from $62,000 to $74,000 annually, with opportunities to grow as the new Lawrence location expands.

Qualifications

• Experience in a high-volume kitchen.
• Proficient in multiple kitchen stations and cooking styles.
• Able to trim and portion meat cuts.
• 1-2 years of full-service kitchen management experience.
• 3+ years of restaurant cooking experience.

Responsibilities

• Pitmaster Leadership - Prepare and cook barbecue meats daily according to Q39 recipes, portioning, and cooking standards, ensuring consistent food quality.
• Team Management - Train, develop, and oversee back-of-house staff, provide coaching on performance, safety, and teamwork, and assist the Kitchen Manager with labor scheduling and shift coverage.
• Inventory & Ordering - Place orders, maintain pars, verify deliveries for quality and accuracy, and monitor food cost and waste through portion control and standard procedures.
• Equipment & Facility Oversight - Ensure smokers and all kitchen equipment are clean, operational, and maintained per preventative maintenance programs.
• Compliance & Safety - Lead adherence to all health regulations; implement corrective actions for policy violations.
• Daily Operations - Complete line checks, coordinate with management on quality, resolve operational issues, and document incidents using 7Shifts.
• Continuous Improvement - Support execution of all Q39 guidelines, recommend performance enhancements, and ensure consistent back-of-house procedures.

Skills

High-volume kitchen

Kitchen leadership

Meat trimming

Kitchen management

Restaurant cooking

English fluency

Computer literacy

Communication skills

Job description

Q39 Lawrence in Lawrence, KS is seeking a Sous Chef to lead back-of-house operations and maintain high food quality in a high-volume kitchen. You will train staff, manage line checks, ordering, and ensure compliance with health standards to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

The role requires strong leadership, meat preparation skills, and programming with 7Shifts. Salary ranges from $62,000 to $74,000 annually, with opportunities to grow as the new Lawrence location expands.