Sous Chef

Upper Crust Food Service; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Sous Chef who will work alongside the Head Chef to keep food prep on track, ensure safety and quality, and help shape the menu. This role emphasizes real input on menu concepts while being part of a collaborative kitchen team.

You will help manage seasonal menu concepts, maintain cleanliness, and support event planning, with strong communication to management through various channels.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of food service experience in a commercial kitchen.
• Food safety handler certification or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfort working with varied personalities under pressure.
• Ability to pass a background check.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Chef to ensure food is prepared safely, efficiently, and to spec.
• Collaborate on seasonal, evolving menu concepts.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen and dining area.
• Wash utensils, equipment and dishes as needed.
• Assist with receiving, inspecting, and storing ingredients.
• Enforce food safety standards per regulations.
• Plan and execute special events as directed by management.
• Communicate regularly with management by phone, email, and text.

Skills

Food service experience

Food safety certification

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Background check

Job description

The Role

Sous Chefs are the Head Chef’s right hand — keeping food prep on track, the kitchen running clean, and the team pulling in the same direction. You’ll help shape the menu, not just execute it, and step in wherever the kitchen needs you that day. This is a role for someone who wants real input on the menu while still being part of a team, not running the show solo.

Instructions

• Work alongside the Head Chef to make sure food is prepared safely, efficiently, and to spec
• Collaborate on seasonal, evolving menu concepts
• Keep the kitchen and dining room clean and sanitary
• Wash utensils, equipment, and dishes as needed
• Help unload, inspect, and store raw ingredients and supplies
• Enforce food safety and sanitation standards per state and local regulations
• Plan and execute special events as directed by management
• Communicate regularly with management by phone, email, and text

Ingredients

• 2+ years of food service experience, ideally with bulk prep and production in a commercial kitchen
• Food safety handler and sanitation certification, or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Comfort working with a variety of personalities under pressure
• Ability to pass a background check
• Comfort standing for 8+ hour shifts and lifting up to 50 lbs

Chef’s Notes

• The work environment can be loud and busy, with kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors
• Exposure to extreme heat or cold is possible depending on the kitchen environment
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend, and stoop
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals

If you’re looking for meaningful work, real ownership, and a team that believes hospitality can make a difference, we’d love to meet you.

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.