Lead Sous Chef — Fine Dining & Menu Innovation

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis is seeking a dedicated Sous Chef to lead the line, supervise cooks and stewards, and partner with the CDC to ensure flawless service across all stations.

You bring at least two years in fine dining, strong knife skills, and a passion for hospitality. This on-site role requires flexible hours, excellent English communication, and a commitment to quality and cleanliness.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years experience in a fine dining restaurant environment.
• Understanding of professional cooking and knife handling skills.
• Knowledge of safety, sanitation, and food handling processes.
• Able to work flexible hours (nights, weekends).
• Responsible, dependable, punctual.
• Excellent communication skills; must be able to speak, read, and understand English.
• Clean and professional appearance.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for all things 21c.
• Must pass a background check.

Responsibilities

• Owns service period and crew.
• Able to be multifaceted with eyes on all kitchen activities.
• Knows the strengths and weaknesses of line staff under supervision, knows what and when to delegate and to whom, and has set clear expectations for the finished product.
• Available to assist line staff with recipe techniques and station prep and answer any questions.
• Abreast of all menu changes, regardless of service period.
• Relays important information about the day service for line staff as they arrive, such as menu changes, station assignments, and private events.
• Ensures that stewarding staff follow their opening, closing, and mid-service side work. Coordinates with CDC on supervising the Stewarding department.
• Maintains clean and organized walk-ins & dry storage area.
• Orders daily and weekly products in conjunction with CDC.
• Stays aware of food and labor costs and makes efforts to control these in their particular service periods.
• Collaborates with CDC and/or EC on menu development and engineering.

Skills

Fine dining

Knife skills

Communication

English fluency

Punctuality

Team leadership

Job description

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis is seeking a dedicated Sous Chef to lead the line, supervise cooks and stewards, and partner with the CDC to ensure flawless service across all stations.

You bring at least two years in fine dining, strong knife skills, and a passion for hospitality. This on-site role requires flexible hours, excellent English communication, and a commitment to quality and cleanliness.