Sous Chef

International House at UC Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 106,088,000 - 110,204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

403(b) match

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

International House at UC Berkeley seeks a Sous Chef to lead the dining unit operations, develop menus and ensure food safety and cost control in a fast-paced, multicultural kitchen. This full-time, on-site role reports to the Chef de Cuisine and emphasizes team leadership and quality service.

The position requires supervising cooks, planning daily menus, and collaborating on catering for events, while maintaining SERVE-Safe standards.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training.
• 3–5 years of progressive culinary experience.
• Strong verbal and written English communication.
• Experience preparing international cuisines and accommodating diverse dietary needs.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen management.
• Experience leading diverse kitchen staff.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and train kitchen staff to foster a positive environment.
• Direct daily work of cooks to ensure timely and efficient production.
• Plan and execute daily menus and special events reflecting diverse community needs.
• Oversee production, preparation, and sanitation, ensuring quality presentation.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, and cost controls to meet budget targets.
• Ensure compliance with SERVE-Safe and safety standards.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team supervision

Menu planning

Quality control

Food safety

English communication

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent training

Job description

Reporting to the Chef de Cuisine, the Sous Chef is a kitchen leadership role responsible for overseeing the dining unit operations and menus served at International House. This position uses leadership and judgment skills as an experienced food service professional who is able to identify and resolve quality assurance issues effectively. This role also creates, inspects, and audits dining unit meal services for menu quality, consistency, adherence to food safety guidelines, production safety, and food cost accuracy. This role is ideal for a team player who can act as a player-coach in a fast-paced and multicultural cuisine kitchen.

The Sous Chef position will also prepare, cook, and serve meals in accordance with daily and weekly menu and special item production requirements. This role assigns and oversees production, preparation, and sanitation tasks to subordinates. Assures that all foods are delivered and presented in an eye-appealing manner while meeting all SERVE-Safe and safety standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise, mentor, and train kitchen staff, fostering a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment.
• Monitors employee performance, communicates performance concerns to the Food Service Supervisor, UC Berkeley Administrative leadership, and Human Resources, and supports efforts to address performance issues through coaching, corrective action, and progressive discipline, as appropriate.
• Directs the daily work of Cooks by assigning tasks and coordinating workflow in collaboration with the Food Service Supervisor to ensure timely and efficient food production and service.
• Support staff development through training in culinary techniques, safety practices, and customer service.
• Participates in employment interviews and makes hiring recommendations. As needed, recommends position changes for dining staff.
• Oversee kitchen operations, including food preparation, production, and service.
• Manage food inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and cost controls to maintain budget targets.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, handling and storage of food and food equipment use and standards.
• Responsible for the direct supervision of subordinates in food preparation, cleaning and cutting of raw foods, spice mixing, seasoning, frying and roasting, using specified temperatures, methods and equipment.
• Responsible for food orders in conjunction with the Head Chef.

Menu Development

• Train staff and ensure high standards for menu execution, food preparation, recipe adherence and presentation, and kitchen operations.
• Plan and execute daily menus, special events, and culturally diverse meals that reflect the diverse community at I-House.
• Develop seasonal and themed menus with an emphasis on freshness, nutritional balance and global culinary traditions.

Catering & Special Events

• Prepare and assist in designing and executing catering menus to meet the needs of a diverse clientele.
• Collaborate with the Events and Catering team to perform catering services for all I-House events
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A culinary degree or equivalent professional training is required.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive culinary experience is required.
• Strong verbal and written communication in the English language, demonstrates active listening, flexibility, critical thinking, and the ability to multi-task and ensure effective time management.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing international cuisines and accommodating diverse dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, gluten-free, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, kitchen management, and inventory control.
• Experience managing and motivating a diverse kitchen staff.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding.
• Ability to lead and direct in a unionized environment.

Working Conditions

• This role requires work on some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• This is a fast-paced kitchen and dining environment with extended periods of standing, up to 6 to 8 hours.
• Ability to lift 25-30 pounds on a regular basis when cooking.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• FLSA Status: Non-exempt, full-time (40-50 hours per week)
• Pay range: $37.01 - $38.46 paid hourly, eligible for overtime
• Pay is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Benefits: I-House offers a robust and competitive benefits package for employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support. In addition, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, access to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), commuter benefits, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Retirement: Eligible employees may participate in our 403(b)-retirement plan. I-House offers a 100% employer match on employee contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation and an additional employer non-elective contribution for eligible employees, in accordance with the terms of the plan.
• Time-off: Paid vacation totaling 18 days of accrual in the first year (with accrual increasing after 5 years), paid sick time, 14 paid holidays, and generous family leave and accommodations.
• Location: This role requires on-site presence and engagement with staff, leadership, and stakeholders. No remote work options are available for this role.

The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to work in person in Berkeley, CA.

International House is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.