Lead Sous Chef — Organic, Scratch Kitchen Leader

Food and Thought 2; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Food and Thought 2 in Naples, FL is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to help lead our 100% organic, wellness-focused kitchen. You will work closely with the Executive Chef to ensure exceptional food quality, consistent execution, and an outstanding guest experience.

The role combines leadership with active kitchen participation. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, mentors staff, and shares a passion for scratch cooking, organic ingredients, and ingredient integrity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive culinary leadership in a high-volume kitchen.
• Experience as Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager with supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience in scratch kitchens, farm-to-table, organic, or wellness-focused concepts.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, HACCP principles, and proper food handling procedures.
• Experience with inventory management, food cost control, and kitchen production.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate diverse teams.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for organic food, ingredient quality, and culinary excellence.
• Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Chef in daily kitchen operations and ensure efficient service.
• Lead the culinary team during production and service with professionalism and teamwork.
• Prepare, cook, and plate menu items while coaching the team.
• Maintain recipes, portions, presentation, and quality standards.
• Keep the kitchen clean, organized, and safe.
• Assist with recruiting, training, onboarding, and developing culinary staff.
• Provide coaching and feedback to promote growth and accountability.
• Foster respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Assist with scheduling and labor planning.
• Ensure all dishes use 100% organic ingredients and scratch-made preparations.
• Support menu development, recipe testing, and new item implementation.
• Maintain wellness-focused culinary standards.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Sous Chef

Kitchen supervision

Scratch kitchen

Organic/wellness concepts

Food safety/HACCP

Inventory management

Food cost control

Team leadership/coaching

Communication/organization

Under pressure

Organic food passion

Flexible schedule

Job description

Food and Thought 2 in Naples, FL is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to help lead our 100% organic, wellness-focused kitchen. You will work closely with the Executive Chef to ensure exceptional food quality, consistent execution, and an outstanding guest experience.

The role combines leadership with active kitchen participation. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, mentors staff, and shares a passion for scratch cooking, organic ingredients, and ingredient integrity.