Sous Chef

Duke Careers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Dining at Duke University in Durham is seeking a Sous Chef to lead daily kitchen operations, guide a culinary team, and uphold top quality while managing costs in a dynamic residential dining setting.

You will develop staff, ensure HACCP and safety compliance, and collaborate with culinary leadership on menus and production planning. This is a limited term, full-time role with opportunities for professional growth and impact.

Qualifications

• Education generally requires an Associate's degree in hospitality management or related culinary field.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive culinary management experience; bargaining unit setting preferred.
• Strong leadership, HACCP knowledge, communication, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations and supervise food preparation across stations.
• Develop staff, provide coaching, and manage onboarding and training.
• Ensure HACCP compliance, health and safety standards, and proper equipment use.
• Monitor inventory, costs, labor, and production logs for efficiency.
• Collaborate with chefs on menus, forecasting, and production planning.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary management

Food safety

Communication

Organizational skills

Inventory management

Cost controls

Education

Associate's degree in hospitality management, food service management, or related culinary degree

Job description

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Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality, creativity, and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As aSous Chef within Duke Dining, you'll play a critical leadership role in creating exceptional dining experiences for our students, faculty, staff, and guests. You'll join a collaborative culinary team that values innovation, professional growth, operational excellence, and a commitment to delivering high-quality food in a dynamic residential dining environment.

Whether you're mentoring culinary talent, driving food quality, or ensuring operational excellence, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day. This is a limited term position.

Be Bold.

As a Sous Chef, you'll lead daily kitchen operations while helping shape a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. You'll collaborate closely with culinary leadership to execute menus, develop staff, maintain food safety standards, and support efficient, cost-conscious operations.

What You'll Do

Lead Culinary Operations

• Supervise and actively participate in food preparation and production across all kitchen stations.


• Ensure consistent execution of recipes, portion standards, presentation, and food quality expectations.


• Monitor food appearance, flavor profiles, and overall guest satisfaction.


• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef to forecast production needs and support menu planning.


• Identify opportunities to improve culinary processes, recipes, and production methods.

Develop and Inspire Teams

• Schedule, assign, and direct daily work for culinary team members.


• Create and manage production schedules and break schedules.


• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to employees.


• Support onboarding and culinary skills training for new and existing staff.


• Assist with workforce planning to ensure proper staffing levels based on operational demands.


• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and inclusive work environment.

Champion Food Safety and Compliance

• Ensure adherence to HACCP standards and safe food handling practices.


• Maintain compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and operational regulations.


• Ensure proper equipment operation and compliance with chemical safety procedures.


• Monitor and document cooler and freezer temperatures.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Monitor inventory usage and support purchasing and product forecasting activities.


• Help manage food costs, labor efficiency, waste reduction, and productivity goals.


• Assist with inventory management across dining operations.


• Maintain accurate production logs, checklists, and operational documentation.


• Support communication and coordination across culinary teams to ensure seamless operations.

Contribute to the Success of Duke Dining

• Support special projects and departmental initiatives.


• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support departmental, divisional, and university objectives.


• Serve as a trusted partner in maintaining Duke Dining's reputation for excellence.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

Education

Work requires communication, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of an Associate's degree in hospitality management, food service management, or a related culinary degree.

Experience

Work requires a minimum of 3 years of progressive culinary management experience. Prior experience working in a bargaining unit setting preferred. Or and equivalent combination of relevant education and /or experience.

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership and team development abilities.


• Knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety regulations.


• Excellent communication and organizational skills.


• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.


• Strong understanding of food production, inventory management, labor management, and cost controls.

Why Duke Dining?

At Duke, you'll find more than a career, you'll discover an opportunity to grow, lead, and make a difference. We invest in our team members by providing opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and advancement while fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Join a team dedicated to culinary excellence, innovation, and creating memorable dining experiences for the Duke community.

Choose Duke.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $49,939.00 to USD $79,487.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.