Sous Chef

Restaurant Associates; Kennett Square (Chester County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates at 1906, the signature fine dining restaurant at Longwood Gardens, is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to lead day-to-day culinary operations and mentor a diverse team. Reporting to the Executive Chef of 1906, you will supervise 15–30 associates, participate in service, and contribute to menu development, seasonal offerings, and guest-focused experiences.

This role rewards leadership, creativity, and operational excellence within a respected culinary program committed to

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent education/experience.
• Progressive kitchen leadership in restaurants, hotels, or large foodservice.
• Experience in high-volume operations with quality hospitality focus.
• Catering or events experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of current food trends, menu development, and techniques.
• Understanding of food cost controls, inventory, purchasing, and labor planning.
• Strong communication, coaching and team development skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, Outlook and related tech.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee daily culinary operations of 1906.
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of 15–30 culinary associates.
• Lead by example during service, working on the line while ensuring quality and presentation.
• Assist with menu planning, recipe development, seasonal offerings, and culinary innovation.
• Support production kitchen operations and ensure successful execution across outlets.
• Assist the Executive Chef with managing food costs, labor, purchasing and inventory controls.
• Produce and execute catered events, special functions, and VIP experiences.
• Implement new culinary programs with culinary and marketing teams.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing kitchen culture centered on teamwork.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.

Skills

Strong communication

Coaching

Team development

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

Restaurant Associates is seeking a talented Sous Chef to join the team at 1906, the signature fine dining restaurant at Longwood Gardens. This is an opportunity to be part of a culinary program that celebrates seasonality, innovation, and world-class hospitality in one of the nation's most beautiful and iconic destinations.

Reporting directly to the Executive Chef of 1906, the Sous Chef will play a key leadership role in the day-to-day operation of the culinary department, supervising approximately 15‑30 associates while remaining actively involved in service and production. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on culinary leader who enjoys developing teams, mentoring future talent, collaborating on menu development, and delivering memorable guest experiences. This position offers the opportunity to combine creativity, leadership, and operational excellence within a highly respected Restaurant Associates culinary program.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee the daily culinary operations of 1906
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of approximately 15-30 culinary associates
• Lead by example during service, working on the line while maintaining quality, consistency, and presentation standards
• Assist with menu planning, recipe development, seasonal offerings, and culinary innovation
• Support production kitchen operations and ensure successful execution across all outlets
• Assist the Executive Chef with managing food costs, labor expenses, purchasing, and inventory controls
• Produce and execute catered events, special functions, and VIP experiences
• Implement new culinary programs in collaboration with Restaurant Associates culinary and marketing teams
• Foster an inclusive, positive, and high‑performing kitchen culture focused on teamwork and continuous learning
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards

What We're Looking For

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent combination of education and professional experience
• Progressive culinary and kitchen leadership experience in restaurants, hotels, resorts, or complex foodservice environments
• Experience supporting high-volume operations with a commitment to quality and hospitality
• Catering, banquet, or special event experience is a plus
• Knowledge of current food and catering trends, menu development, and culinary techniques
• Understanding of food cost controls, inventory management, purchasing, and labor planning
• Strong communication, coaching, and team development skills
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, Outlook, email, and related technology
• ServSafe Certification preferred

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Associates at Restaurant Associates are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_RA.pdf