Lead Sous Chef — Menu & Kitchen Leadership

The St. Joe Company; Panama City Beach (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The St. Joe Company is seeking a Sous Chef to lead food preparation and supervise kitchen staff in a fast-paced environment. You will assist the Executive Chef with menu planning, inventory, and supply management, while ensuring safety and sanitation standards are met.

Strong leadership and culinary excellence are essential to maintain high-quality plating and timely service. This role requires hands-on oversight, training of staff, and the ability to adjust quickly during peak mealtimes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Science or Culinary Arts.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Previous experience in food and beverage operations is preferred.
• Ability to read, write, speak and communicate in basic English.
• Detail oriented and thorough.

Responsibilities

• Prepares food to specifications before and during operations, ensuring freshness, quality, and proper portioning.
• Properly measures and portions all food items, complying with all portion sizes, quality standards, department policies.
• Utilizes kitchen equipment such as knives, slicers, whips, pots, pans, warmers, steamers, grills, and ovens efficiently and safely.
• Ensures proper food temperatures are maintained and food is stored correctly.
• Packages all products to proper specifications.
• Open, close, and side work duties according to established guidelines.
• Keeps workstation and equipment clean, organized, sanitized, and sufficiently stocked.
• Set up and operates kitchen equipment.
• Manage all kitchen activities, including food preparation, production, and supervision/training of kitchen staff.
• Order supplies to stock inventory appropriately.
• Maintain high morale amongst the culinary team.
• Assume the role as Executive Chef in their absence.
• Enforce adherence to all standards of food quality, preparation, recipes, and presentation.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Stress management

Culinary excellence

Hygiene standards

Guest interaction

Inventory control

Education

Bachelor’s in Culinary Science

Culinary Arts degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The St. Joe Company is seeking a Sous Chef to lead food preparation and supervise kitchen staff in a fast-paced environment. You will assist the Executive Chef with menu planning, inventory, and supply management, while ensuring safety and sanitation standards are met.

Strong leadership and culinary excellence are essential to maintain high-quality plating and timely service. This role requires hands-on oversight, training of staff, and the ability to adjust quickly during peak mealtimes.