Sous Chef

Upper-Crust-Food-Service; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Very few late nights

Time off for most holidays

Paid vacations

401K with company match

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in food preparation, staff supervision, and maintaining a clean, safe kitchen and dining area. You will work closely with the Chef to develop seasonal menus while ensuring high-quality customer service.

Responsibilities include sanitation, safe handling of ingredients, and collaboration with management for events. The role emphasizes teamwork, reliability, and adherence to best practices in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Must work well in a team and follow sanitation procedures.
• Knowledge of safe food handling, preparation, and cooking procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to learn best practices and follow state/local regulations.

Responsibilities

• Support Head Chef to prepare food safely, efficiently, and to spec.
• Collaborate on seasonal, relevant menu concepts with the Chef.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining area.
• Wash utensils, equipment, and dishes.
• Assist in unloading, inspecting, and storing raw ingredients.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per regulations.
• Maintain 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

Communication

Pressure handling

Food safety

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Food safety certification

Job description

At Upper Crust Food Service we believe great food does more than fill plates, it creates connection, strengthens communities, and transforms everyday experiences. Across college campuses, K-12 schools, camps, and Greek housing, our teams bring hospitality to life through fresh food, meaningful relationships, and service people can count on. While we began serving fraternity and sorority communities more than 15 years ago, we've grown into a national hospitality partner supporting a wide range of dining programs across the country. No matter the setting, our purpose remains the same: to show up for the people we serve and for one another.

If you're looking for meaningful work, real ownership, and a team that believes hospitality can make a difference, we'd love to meet you.

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.