Sous Chef

Q39; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 62,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Q39 Lawrence in Lawrence, KS is seeking a Sous Chef to lead back-of-house operations and maintain high food quality in a high-volume kitchen. You will train staff, manage line checks, ordering, and ensure compliance with health standards to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

The role requires strong leadership, meat preparation skills, and programming with 7Shifts. Salary ranges from $62,000 to $74,000 annually, with opportunities to grow as the new Lawrence location expands.

Qualifications

• Experience in a high-volume kitchen.
• Proficient in multiple kitchen stations and cooking styles.
• Able to trim and portion meat cuts.
• 1-2 years of full-service kitchen management experience.
• 3+ years of restaurant cooking experience.

Responsibilities

• Pitmaster Leadership - Prepare and cook barbecue meats daily according to Q39 recipes, portioning, and cooking standards, ensuring consistent food quality.
• Team Management - Train, develop, and oversee back-of-house staff, provide coaching on performance, safety, and teamwork, and assist the Kitchen Manager with labor scheduling and shift coverage.
• Inventory & Ordering - Place orders, maintain pars, verify deliveries for quality and accuracy, and monitor food cost and waste through portion control and standard procedures.
• Equipment & Facility Oversight - Ensure smokers and all kitchen equipment are clean, operational, and maintained per preventative maintenance programs.
• Compliance & Safety - Lead adherence to all health regulations; implement corrective actions for policy violations.
• Daily Operations - Complete line checks, coordinate with management on quality, resolve operational issues, and document incidents using 7Shifts.
• Continuous Improvement - Support execution of all Q39 guidelines, recommend performance enhancements, and ensure consistent back-of-house procedures.

Skills

High-volume kitchen

Kitchen leadership

Meat trimming

Kitchen management

Restaurant cooking

English fluency

Computer literacy

Communication skills

Job description

Job Location: Q39 Lawrence - LAWRENCE, KS 66044

Salary Range: $62,000.00 - $74,000.00 Salary/year

Q39 is Growing - Join Our Leadership Team!

Kansas City’s award-winning BBQ is now in Lawrence! Join our new location in Lawrence, Kansas, and be part of our exceptional management team. We are looking for a culinary leader to help us bring our passion for world-class BBQ and scratch-made, chef-inspired cuisine to even more guests.

About the Role

Job Purpose: Our passion is creating craveable, memorable dining experiences. The Sous Chef is responsible for maintaining exceptional food quality and cleanliness, ensuring adherence to Q39 recipes, procedures, and health standards. Leads and trains all back-of-house teams, drives a positive and productive work environment, completes daily ordering and line checks, and achieves targeted scores on Ecosure and local health inspections.

Key Responsibilities

• Pitmaster Leadership - Prepare and cook barbecue meats daily according to Q39 recipes, portioning, and cooking standards, ensuring consistent food quality.
• Team Management - Train, develop, and oversee back-of-house staff, provide coaching on performance, safety, and teamwork, and assist the Kitchen Manager with labor scheduling and shift coverage.
• Inventory & Ordering - Place orders, maintain pars, verify deliveries for quality and accuracy, and monitor food cost and waste through portion control and standard procedures.
• Equipment & Facility Oversight - Ensure smokers and all kitchen equipment are clean, operational, and maintained per preventative maintenance programs.
• Compliance & Safety - Lead adherence to all federal, state, county, and municipal health and safety regulations; implement corrective actions for policy violations.
• Daily Operations - Complete line checks, coordinate with management on quality, resolve operational issues, and document incidents, repairs, and employee performance using 7Shifts.
• Continuous Improvement - Support execution of all Q39 guidelines, recommend performance enhancements, and ensure consistent implementation of back-of-house procedures.

QualificationsRequirements:

• Must have experience working in a high-volume environment.
• Experienced in a variety of kitchen stations and multiple cooking styles
• Must be able to trim and portion cuts of meat.
• 1-2 years of full-service kitchen management experience
• 3+ years of restaurant cooking experience
• Read, write, and speak English fluently, Spanish is a plus.
• Display basic knowledge of operation of computers and tablets. Including MS word, excel and outlook.
• Excellent communication skills