Sous Chef

Restaurant Associates

Kirkland (WA)

On-site

USD 80,000 - 82,000

Full time

39 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

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

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates in Kirkland, WA is seeking a Sous Chef to support the Executive Chef in day-to-day culinary operations and ensure high-quality food and service. The role emphasizes organization, structured processes, and building a capable, accountable team in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include menu planning support, production, ordering, cost controls, sanitation, and team development.

Qualifications

A.S. degree in Culinary Arts or related field, or equivalent experience.
Progressive kitchen management experience in high-volume environments.
Ability to organize people, processes, and priorities in a fast-paced kitchen.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Executive Chef to manage daily culinary operation, ensuring quality and service standards.
Establish organized kitchen processes promoting efficiency and clear communication.
Supervise and develop hourly culinary staff to foster a professional team environment.
Assist with menu planning, recipe development, food preparation, and production.
Coordinate daily kitchen activities, staffing, and production schedules to meet needs.
Adapt to changing priorities and guide the team during peak times.

Skills

Leadership

Team coordination

Organization

Communication

Education

A.S. degree in Culinary Arts or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Restaurant Associates

Position Title: Sous Chef

Location: Kirkland, WA

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 5:30AM - 3:30PM

Salary: $80,000 - $82,000 / year

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation’s most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations! Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards - Best Places to Work, This is R/A !

Job Summary

Working as the Sous Chef, you will support the Executive Chef in leading the day-to-day culinary operation and ensuring the consistent execution of high-quality food and service. The ideal candidate is highly organized and systematic, with a proven ability to create structure, establish clear processes, and build a professional, accountable team environment. This individual should be comfortable coordinating multiple priorities, adapting quickly to changing operational needs, and providing clear direction that keeps the culinary team focused and moving forward. You will assist with menu planning, food preparation and production, ordering, cost controls, catering execution, sanitation, and team development. This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic, solutions-oriented culinary professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in operational excellence, organization, and team leadership.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Partner with the Executive Chef to manage the daily culinary operation, ensuring consistent execution, quality, and service standards
Establish and maintain organized, systematic kitchen processes that promote efficiency, accountability, and clear communication
Supervise, train, coach, and develop hourly culinary associates while fostering a professional and collaborative team environment
Assist with menu planning, recipe development, food preparation, production, and presentation
Coordinate daily kitchen activities, staffing, production schedules, and priorities to ensure operational needs are met
Adapt quickly to changing priorities and provide clear direction to the culinary team during high-volume or time-sensitive operations
Assist the Executive Chef with food and labor cost controls, inventory management, ordering, and expense management
Execute catering events and special functions, ensuring proper preparation, staffing, presentation, and service
Maintain high standards for food quality, sanitation, safety, organization, and cleanliness
Support the rollout of new culinary programs and initiatives in partnership with the Company’s culinary and marketing teams
Monitor food production and ensure recipes, portion standards, and presentation guidelines are consistently followed
Assist with identifying operational challenges and implementing practical solutions to improve efficiency and team performance
Participate in client satisfaction initiatives and maintain positive relationships with clients and internal partners

Preferred Qualifications:

A.S. degree in Culinary Arts or a related field, or equivalent culinary experience
Progressive culinary and kitchen management experience, with the level of experience commensurate with formal education and training
Proven ability to organize people, processes, and priorities in a fast-paced culinary environment
Strong team leadership skills, including the ability to provide clear direction, coach employees, and establish accountability
Catering and event execution experience preferred
Experience in high-volume, complex foodservice operations highly desirable
Institutional, contract foodservice, or batch cooking experience helpful
Comprehensive knowledge of culinary techniques, foodservice trends, production, presentation, sanitation, and food cost controls
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with associates, clients, and leadership
Must be willing to participate in client satisfaction programs and activities
ServSafe certification highly desirable

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.