Sous Chef

Restaurant Associates; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates, a premier provider of dining and event catering in NYC, seeks a Sous Chef to lead daily kitchen operations for a high-volume corporate dining account. You will oversee food production, ensure quality, and drive culinary excellence across all offerings.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, develops talent, and partners with the culinary team to deliver exceptional experiences for clients and guests.

Qualifications

• Hands-on culinary leader with experience in fast-paced, high-volume operations.
• Strong knowledge of food and labor cost controls, inventory management, and production forecasting.
• Proven ability to coach and develop culinary teams in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily culinary operations across high-volume production and service.
• Oversee food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation to standards.
• Assist with menu development and seasonal offerings for premier account.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Cost controls

Team mentoring

Operational excellence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary: $75,000 - $80,000

Restaurant Associates

Position Title: Sous Chef

Salary: $75,000 - $80,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

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:

As Sous Chef for a premier, high-volume corporate dining account in NYC, you will play a key leadership role in delivering exceptional culinary experiences while maintaining the highest standards of food quality, consistency, presentation, and service. Partnering closely with the culinary team, you will help lead daily kitchen operations, oversee high-volume food production, develop innovative menus, and ensure seamless execution across all culinary offerings.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-profile environment, understands the complexities of large-scale foodservice operations, and is passionate about developing talent, driving operational excellence, and exceeding client expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Executive Chef in leading all aspects of daily culinary operations, ensuring consistent execution across high-volume food production and service.
• Oversee food preparation, cooking, plating, and presentation while maintaining exceptional standards for quality, freshness, consistency, and timeliness.
• Assist with menu development, seasonal offerings, and culinary innovation tailored to client expectations and the needs of a premier account.
• Manage food and labor costs, monitor inventory, minimize waste, and support effective purchasing and production planning to achieve financial objectives.
• Lead, train, and mentor hourly culinary associates, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, professional development, and culinary excellence.
• Coordinate and execute catered events, special functions, and elevated dining experiences while maintaining operational efficiency and attention to detail.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef, account leadership, and corporate culinary and marketing teams to implement new culinary programs, concepts, and initiatives.
• Monitor production levels, forecast demand, and optimize staffing and workflow to support efficient service in a complex, high-volume environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Progressive culinary and kitchen management experience, preferably within a premier, high-volume, high-expectation foodservice operation.
• Experience with catering, special events, and elevated dining programs preferred.
• Ability to lead large-scale food production while maintaining exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Experience managing complex culinary operations, including multiple service periods, diverse menus, and high-volume production demands.
• Strong knowledge of food and labor cost controls, inventory management, purchasing, production forecasting, and waste reduction.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to coach, motivate, and develop culinary teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands in a dynamic operation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Outlook, email, and other relevant technology.
• A client-focused mindset with a demonstrated commitment to service excellence, continuous improvement, and client satisfaction.

ServSafe certification strongly preferred.

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
• 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

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, for paid time off benefits information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_RA.pdf