Sous Chef

Compass Group USA; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Life insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Employee discounts

Wellness programs

Job summary

CULINAIRE, a Compass Group USA unit, is seeking an experienced Executive Sous Chef to join the St. Louis Art Museum culinary leadership team. You will support culinary operations across Panorama Restaurant, the SLAM Café, and upscale events, driving excellence and guest satisfaction.

You will lead a high-performing kitchen, develop menus, and ensure consistent quality, safety, and cost controls, with a schedule including evenings and selective early shifts.

Qualifications

• Strong culinary background with upscale dining and high-volume production experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing culinary teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of kitchen operations, cost controls, inventory management, and labor planning.
• Commitment to food quality, presentation, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Chef in daily culinary operations.
• Lead, train, coach, and develop kitchen team members.
• Ensure high-quality food production, presentation, and service.
• Oversee production planning, purchasing, inventory controls, food cost management, and labor efficiency.
• Assist with menu development, recipe creation, and culinary innovation.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and compliance standards.
• Contribute to high-volume service periods and special events.
• Foster a positive, professional kitchen culture.

Skills

Culinary leadership

High-volume production

Team leadership

Menu development

Banquet & catering

Education

Culinary training

Job description

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CULINAIRE provides upscale food and beverage management services to a very diverse collection of national accounts to include art museums, cultural landmarks, hotels, performing arts centers, restaurants, and special event venues. While our portfolio is diverse, the one constant in every operation that we manage is our total commitment to our associates to put their career path, safety and success as our top priority, as well as to provide sophisticated, delicious food and warm service to our guests.

We are seeking a dependable and proactive culinary leader who takes ownership, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise, creativity, initiative, and strong leadership skills to support a high-performing culinary team.

The St. Louis Art Museum is seeking an experienced, motivated, and dedicated Executive Sous Chef to join our culinary leadership team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a diverse and dynamic culinary operation that includes Panorama Restaurant, the SLAM Café, and a robust calendar of upscale catered events, receptions, and special functions. The Executive Sous Chef will play a key leadership role in supporting culinary excellence across multiple service venues while helping drive the success of the museum's food and beverage program.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Chef in all aspects of daily culinary operations.
• Lead, train, coach, and develop kitchen team members.
• Ensure consistent execution of high-quality food production, presentation, and service.
• Oversee production planning, purchasing, inventory controls, food cost management, and labor efficiency.
• Assist with menu development, recipe creation, and culinary innovation.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and compliance standards.
• Contribute to successful execution of high-volume service periods, catered events, and special functions.
• Foster a positive, professional, and collaborative kitchen culture.

Qualifications

• Strong culinary background with experience in upscale dining, high-volume production, banquet, or catering environments.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing culinary teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of kitchen operations, cost controls, inventory management, and labor planning.
• Experience maintaining exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation standards.
• Ability to remain calm, adaptable, and solutions-focused in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to lead by example.
• Passion for culinary excellence and continuous improvement.

Schedules vary based on operational needs and the museum's event calendar. While peak seasons and major events require a strong sense of urgency and commitment, the operation also provides periods of more manageable pace and work-life balance than many traditional restaurant environments.

The position typically offers a favorable leadership schedule, with many evenings free and an average of approximately three early shifts for every late shift, depending on business needs.

Salary: Approximately $70,000 annually, with flexibility based on experience and qualifications.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holiday benefits
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health and wellness programs
• Employee discounts and shopping programs
• Voluntary benefits including pet insurance and identity theft protection
• Paid parental and personal leave (where eligible)
• Professional development, leadership training, and advancement opportunities within CULINAIRE and Compass Group USA

Culinaire is a member of Compass Group USA

Associates at Culinaire are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• 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
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

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.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Culinaire maintains a drug-free workplace.