Sous Chef

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Southern California is seeking a Sous Chef to lead USC Hospitality’s high-volume kitchen across our dining venues. You will guide, motivate, and educate staff while maintaining exceptional service for students, athletes, faculty, and guests.

You will supervise training, scheduling, and daily operations, manage food costs, oversee menu planning and plate presentation, and enforce safety regulations in alignment with USC’s values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent culinary training.
• Strong leadership experience in high-volume, full-service kitchen.
• Knowledge of local, state health and safety laws and regulations.
• Ability to supervise and train other workers.
• Must communicate effectively in English.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff to ensure adherence to USC Hospitality and Health Department standards.
• Assign duties daily/weekly using checklists and side work.
• Direct, guide, and motivate staff to meet production and sales goals.
• Train, coach, and counsel employees; conduct weekly staff meetings.
• Plan menus and plate presentations; cost out specials and menu items.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Specialized or technical training

Tools

CBORD

Job description

From fine dining restaurants to residential dining, USC Hospitality serves over 65,000 students, athletes, faculty, and staff, as well as our many visitors. Hospitality is one of the six core business units that comprise USC Auxiliary Services and one of the largest employers on campus. We are renowned for our fresh take on self-operated food concepts with restaurants between both campuses. The team at USC Hospitality is led by innovative chefs and directors who strive every day to craft nourishing and wholesome alternatives for our hungry Trojan Family and guests. We at USC Hospitality take pride in offering the best in residential dining options to our students, athletes, faculty, and staff. From Parkside Restaurant & Grill, Everybody’s Kitchen (EVK) to the University Village, our team works hard to make sure there are fresh, healthy options for all of our developing Trojans. We look forward to meeting the changing needs of the USC community, including the introduction of locally sourced whole foods to fuel our guests for studying and student life and home-style meals to welcome every guest into our family. Each restaurant offers a unique communal dining experience appealing to a variety of dining preferences and nutritional lifestyles of our diverse student population. We are seeking a Sous Chef to join our rapidly growing team.

The Opportunity

We set our standards high when it comes to the quality of our food and our customer service, with the expectation that all of our meals are fresh, innovative, healthy, and satisfying. You will lead our team by supporting, motivating and educating each employee as well as creating a positive, customer-service oriented environment for our students, athletes, faculty, staff and visitors. We look forward to serving our guests and providing excellence in service, and expect that you will as well!

The Accountabilities

• Supervise staff to ensure they are following the standards set by USC Hospitality and the Health Department.
• Assign duties to staff on a daily and weekly basis using opening and closing checklists and/or weekly side work.
• Communicate changes from management to front line staff.
• Direct, guide, and motivate staff to achieve and meet the production and/or sales goals.
• Provide all staff with day-to-day goals and expectations.
• Train, guide, coach, and counsel employees.
• Conduct weekly meetings with staff members to discuss issues and concerns.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Daily review of schedules to ensure lowest possible labor cost.
• Review and approve payroll.
• Participate in planning menus and plate presentation.
• Create recipes for new menus.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of food preparation.
• Ensure the par levels are correct and make adjustments based on volume.
• Cost out all specials and menu items to ensure proper budgeted food cost.
• Check waste logs and adjust pars accordingly to control food cost.
• Control food cost by spot checking portion sizes and ensuring quality products.
• Take inventory on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
• Order products through CBORD.
• Data entry for the cash office, financial report, and closing report.
• Input the sales into the DSR.
• Print out the daily menus.
• Email daily recaps to management.
• Help train staff on new products/LTOs.
• Ensure staff attends the required trainings.
• Assist with staff reviews.
• Assist with interviewing and hiring new culinary specialists.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
• The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Qualifiers

• Education: Specialized or technical training.
• Experience: 2 years.
• Expertise: Experience in leadership role in high-volume, full-service kitchen environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of pertinent local, federal, and state health and safety laws and regulations.
• Ability to supervise and train other workers.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Valid CA driver's license required.
• Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information please visit the policy website.
• In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC's Unifying Values.

What We Prefer

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 3 years of experience.
• Knowledge of kitchen equipment and procedures.
• Budgeting experience.

The Trojan Family Rewards

We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information, please visit https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks. This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans! The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all of its members. USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research. Will you be one? Join us! FIGHT ON!

Salary

The salary for this position is $70,304.00/yr.

Minimum Education and Experience

Minimum Education: Specialized/technical training Minimum Experience: 2 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Two plus years experience in a leadership role within a high-volume, full service kitchen environment. Strong track record of success in previous assignments demonstrating upward career mobility. Demonstrated knowledge of pertinent local, federal and state health and safety laws and regulations.

Equal Opportunity

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.