Sous Chef

Upper-Crust-Food-Service; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Few late nights

Holiday time off

Paid vacations

401K with company match

Health/dental/vision/pet insurance

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in food preparation, staff management, and maintaining a clean kitchen. You will help ensure safety, quality, and timely service while collaborating on evolving menu concepts.

The role emphasizes strong teamwork, adherence to sanitation standards, and clear communication with management and customers. Prior kitchen experience is preferred, with a path to certification within 30 days.

Qualifications

• Teamwork and ability to follow sanitation procedures are essential.
• Understanding of food handling, preparation and cooking procedures.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to pass a background check is expected.
• Food safety handler certification or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.
• High school or vocational kitchen basics coursework preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Head Chef to prepare food safely and efficiently.
• Collaborate on seasonal and evolving menu concepts.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room.
• Wash utensils, equipment and dishes.
• Assist in unloading, inspecting and storing ingredients and supplies.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per regulations.
• Maintain a professional attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Skills

Teamwork

Sanitation procedures

Food handling

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Best practices

Education

High school diploma

Food service experience

Job description

Proudly serving Sororities and Fraternities, Upper Crust Food Service is known for freshness, quality, variety, and excellent customer service. Upper Crust Food Service began with a vision to solve a problem that many Fraternity and Sorority houses face. That problem is a lack of consistency and professionalism in the kitchen. With a focus on great food and personal service, we’ve remained true to our roots. Today, the chefs of Upper Crust Food Service prepare tens of thousands of meals weekly for students across the country.

Sous Chefs are responsible for supporting the Head Chef in food preparation, management of additional staff, maintaining a clean kitchen/dining room, and ensuring best practices with safety and sanitation. Maintain outstanding communication with management and customers. Consistently deliver outstanding products and customer service.

What's in it for you?

• Very few late nights and weekend hours
• Time off for most holidays
• Paid vacations
• A competitive 401K with company match
• Health, dental, vision, and pet insurance

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the Head Chef, ensuring that food is prepared safely, efficiently, and according to specifications or requests.
• Collaborate with the Chef to create seasonal, relevant and evolving menu concepts
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room
• Wash kitchen utensils, equipment and dishes
• Help with unloading, inspecting, and storage of raw ingredients and supplies.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Ability to follow all sanitation procedures
• Understand food handling techniques, preparation, and cooking procedures.
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with a variety of personalities and under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of or the ability to learn food handling techniques, preparation, and cooking procedures.
• Be familiar with the industry's best practices

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 2+ years of food service skills or related experience preferred
• Have experience with bulk food prep and production in a commercial kitchen setting.
• Ability to pass a background check
• Have a valid food safety handler and sanitation certification in accordance with state and local regulations or obtain one within 30 days of employment
• High school or vocational school coursework in kitchen basics such as food safety, is preferred.

Special Demands:

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.