Sous Chef

Upper Crust Food Service; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Sous Chef to join our team. The role supports the Head Chef, shaping menu concepts while ensuring efficient prep, safe operations, and a clean, well-organized kitchen.

You will help lead a dynamic team, contribute to seasonal menus, and uphold sanitation standards across kitchen and dining areas. Strong communication and reliability are essential for success in this fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of food service experience in bulk prep and production.
• Food safety handler certification, or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Comfort standing 8+ hours and lifting up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Head Chef to ensure 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.

Skills

Food service experience

Communication skills

Background check

Physical stamina

Education

Food safety handler certification

Job description

At Upper Crust Food Service we believe great food does more than fill plates, it creates connection, strengthens communities, and transforms everyday experiences. Across college campuses, K-12 schools, camps, and Greek housing, our teams bring hospitality to life through fresh food, meaningful relationships, and service people can count on. While we began serving fraternity and sorority communities more than 15 years ago, we've grown into a national hospitality partner supporting a wide range of dining programs across the country. No matter the setting, our purpose remains the same: to show up for the people we serve and for one another.

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
• 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

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.