Sous Chef - Dynamic Private Club Kitchen Lead

The Lake; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lake, a new private social club in Chicago's River North, seeks a Sous Chef to partner with the Executive Chef in leading day-to-day kitchen operations across club dining venues. You will ensure consistent culinary execution, uphold high quality and cleanliness, and foster a collaborative kitchen culture.

Ideal candidates bring 3–5+ years in progressive kitchen roles, experience in luxury settings, strong classical techniques, and a proven ability to lead a team in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in progressive kitchen roles, including experience as a Sous Chef or Senior Line Cook.
• Experience in high-quality restaurants, luxury hotels, or private clubs preferred.
• Strong understanding of classical cooking techniques, kitchen organization, and food safety standards.
• Ability to lead a team in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.
• Experience with pre-opening environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency in all food preparation and service.
• Lead service periods, ensuring dishes are executed to the highest standards and delivered in a timely manner.
• Maintain organization, cleanliness, and proper food handling practices in accordance with health and safety standards.
• Support the coordination between kitchen and front-of-house teams to ensure seamless service.
• Assist in menu development, tastings, and seasonal updates as directed by the Executive Chef.
• Supervise and mentor line cooks and prep cooks, providing training and ongoing feedback.
• Foster a positive, respectful, and high-performance kitchen culture.
• Assist in hiring, onboarding, and scheduling of kitchen staff.
• Lead by example with professionalism, urgency, and attention to detail.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary fundamentals

Kitchen operations

Pre-opening experience

Food safety

Experience 3-5 yrs

Job description

The Lake, a new private social club in Chicago's River North, seeks a Sous Chef to partner with the Executive Chef in leading day-to-day kitchen operations across club dining venues. You will ensure consistent culinary execution, uphold high quality and cleanliness, and foster a collaborative kitchen culture.

Ideal candidates bring 3–5+ years in progressive kitchen roles, experience in luxury settings, strong classical techniques, and a proven ability to lead a team in a fast-paced environment.