Restaurant Sous Chef

White Lodging; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid parental leave

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

401(k) with company match

Vacation/PTO with rollover

Wellness tools

Referral bonuses

Dining hotel discounts

Growth opportunities across properties

Job summary

White Lodging is hiring a Restaurant Sous Chef to help open and lead Yacht Club, the signature fine dining seafood restaurant at Hotel Trinity, Autograph Collection in downtown Austin. This ground-floor opportunity to build a fine dining team from scratch, shape culture, and set culinary standards for an upscale seafood concept.

Ideal candidates bring fine dining leadership experience, passion for seafood-forward cuisine, and strong wine/beverage knowledge.

Qualifications

• Fine dining leadership experience in upscale restaurants.
• Experience opening or leading a new restaurant concept.
• Strong wine and beverage knowledge.
• Sommelier certification preferred but not required.
• Hotel restaurant experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of restaurant operations to deliver an elevated fine dining experience.
• Recruit, direct, and develop managers and front-of-house staff; foster culture of excellence and growth.
• Drive operational performance through systems, processes, and luxury service standards.
• Oversee financial performance — budgets, forecasting, P&L, and profitability.
• Collaborate with culinary and beverage teams to ensure menu quality and beverage culture.
• Champion guest satisfaction and brand reputation through service excellence and swift guest issue resolution.

Skills

Fine dining leadership

Team development

Wine and beverage knowledge

Operations management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts or related

Job description

Summary: White Lodging is hiring a Restaurant Sous Chef to help open and lead Yacht Club, the signature fine dining seafood restaurant at Hotel Trinity, Autograph Collection in downtown Austin. This is a ground-floor opportunity to build a fine dining team from scratch, shape restaurant culture, and set the culinary standard for one of Austin's most anticipated new upscale seafood concepts. Ideal candidates bring fine dining leadership experience, a passion for seafood-forward cuisine, and strong wine and beverage knowledge.

WHO WE ARE

White Lodging develops and operates a portfolio of award-winning premium hotels, rooftop bars, and restaurants in some of the country's most dynamic cities. We know that hospitality, like life, is about how you make people feel — that's where you come in.

Yacht Club is the signature fine dining seafood restaurant at Hotel Trinity, Autograph Collection — Austin's newest luxury boutique hotel, opening late 2026 at the corner of Trinity and Fifth Streets in the heart of downtown Austin. As the only Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in the city center, Hotel Trinity is a 258-room private hideaway located next to Antone's in the historic 6th Street entertainment district. Yacht Club anchors the hotel's ground floor with a refined yet approachable take on coastal cuisine — fresh seafood, an oyster bar, thoughtful steakhouse offerings, seasonal menus, and an elevated wine and beverage program.

We're seeking an experienced Sous Chef to lead the opening and ongoing culinary operations of Yacht Club — a rare opportunity to hire and develop a team, establish culture, and set the standard for upscale restaurant management at one of Austin's most exciting new hospitality concepts.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead all aspects of restaurant operations to deliver a seamless, elevated fine dining experience across multiple meal periods
• Recruit, direct, and develop a team of managers and front-of-house associates, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and professional growth
• Drive operational performance through consistent execution of systems, processes, and luxury service standards
• Oversee full financial performance — budgets, forecasting, P&L, and strategic initiatives to exceed profitability goals
• Partner with culinary and beverage teams to ensure menu quality, operational flow, and a strong wine and beverage culture
• Champion guest satisfaction and brand reputation through service excellence and swift resolution of guest concerns
• Collaborate cross-functionally with corporate, marketing, and hotel leadership on promotions, activations, and business development goals

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Proven experience managing multiple leaders across front-of-house and back-of-house teams in a high-volume, upscale restaurant environment
• Strong background in fine dining or upscale restaurant operations, with deep knowledge of wine and food pairings — Sommelier certification preferred but not required
• Experience managing multiple meal periods; prior oversight of In-Room Dining in a hotel setting is a plus
• Process-driven approach with exceptional organizational and operational execution skills
• Demonstrated success developing people, driving team culture, and reducing turnover
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and restaurant growth strategy
• Strong communication, business acumen, and creative problem-solving abilities

WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits start Day 1
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Vacation/Paid time off (PTO) with rollover
• Complimentary wellness tools
• Unlimited employee referral bonuses
• Discounts on hotel rooms, dining, and travel
• Growth opportunities across multiple hotel properties

White Lodging is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.