Sous Chef for a College Campus

Thomas Cuisine; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k)

Job summary

Thomas Cuisine is seeking a Sous Chef to lead a fast-paced campus dining operation at Mission Community College in Santa Clara. You will partner with the Executive Chef to manage daily kitchen activities, drive scratch-made menu quality, and mentor the culinary team in a high-volume environment.

You’ll oversee production, safety, and service during peak hours while ensuring food costs and standards are maintained and staff are engaged and trained for success.

Qualifications

• Culinary leadership experience demonstrated in a college dining or high-volume environment.
• Experience overseeing kitchen operations, quality, safety, and service during peak hours.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and portion control.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary operations in a high-volume campus dining environment.
• Lead from the floor, supporting food preparation, production, service, and execution during busy meals.
• Ensure scratch-made menus, recipes, portions, presentation and quality are consistent.
• Coach, train, and motivate culinary team; promote teamwork and accountability.
• Coordinate production and workflow to ensure timely, accurate food preparation.
• Support campus dining needs including events, catering, and high-volume periods.

Skills

Culinary leadership

High-volume service

Food safety

Team coaching

Scratch cooking

Strong communication

Education

Culinary degree preferred

Tools

ServSafe Certification

State Food Handler Card

Job description

Job Details

Locations

• Showing 1 location Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA
• On-site
• Operations
• Full-Time

Description

REAL Food re-fined.

Sous Chef - College Campus |

Location: Mission Community College

3000 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara CA 95054

Compensation: $33-$35 per hour | Full-Time

Schedule: Sunday- Thursday 7am-6pm availability

Job Summary

Take the next step in your culinary leadership career as our Sous Chef! In this hands-on role, you will partner closely with the Executive Chef to lead a fast-paced, high-volume college dining operation. You will help oversee daily kitchen operations, support scratch-made food production, coach and develop the culinary team, and ensure exceptional quality, consistency, safety, and service for our campus community. This is an ideal opportunity for a strong culinary leader who thrives in a busy environment and enjoys being actively involved alongside the team.

What You'll Do

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee daily culinary operations in a high-volume college campus dining environment.
• Lead from the floor, actively supporting food preparation, production, service, and execution during busy meal periods.
• Help ensure consistent execution of scratch-made menus, recipes, portion standards, presentation, and food quality.
• Supervise, coach, train, and motivate culinary team members while promoting teamwork, accountability, and a positive kitchen culture.
• Coordinate daily production and workflow to ensure food is prepared accurately, efficiently, and on time.
• Support multiple dining needs, including daily campus dining, special events, catering, and high-volume service periods.
• Maintain strong food safety, sanitation, cleanliness, and workplace safety standards.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, food cost controls, waste reduction, and responsible use of products and supplies.
• Accommodate special dietary needs and help ensure appropriate allergen and food-safety procedures are followed.
• Step into additional culinary leadership responsibilities in the Executive Chef’s absence.
• Collaborate with campus dining leadership to continuously improve food quality, efficiency, and the student dining experience.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you'll bring

• Culinary degree preferred but not required; equivalent professional culinary experience welcomed.
• At least 3 years of progressive culinary experience, with previous experience as a Sous Chef, Lead Cook, Kitchen Manager, or similar leadership role strongly preferred.
• Experience in high-volume food service, preferably college/university dining, contract food service, restaurants, catering, or multi-outlet operations.
• Strong culinary skills with a passion for scratch cooking, fresh ingredients, quality, and presentation.
• Proven ability to lead teams, prioritize production, and remain organized during high-volume service.
• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to work alongside the culinary team wherever needed.
• Working knowledge of food cost controls, inventory, production systems, menu execution, and waste reduction.
• Strong communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds frequently.
• ServSafe® Certification (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• State Food Handler Card (if applicable) required.
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check (State and Federal) and drug screen.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• This job involves regular exposure to moving mechanical parts and a kitchen environment with fumes, airborne particles, and moderate noise. Employees must have the physical stamina to stand for long periods, lift trays, and perform repetitive tasks. Occasional exposure to wet or humid conditions, extreme temperatures, and vibration may occur. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.

At Thomas Cuisine, our people are purposeful. They care about food and quality and have a desire to make a positive impact in the world through REAL food. Embark on a rewarding culinary journey with us, where your skills will not only flourish but also contribute significantly to the satisfaction and well-being of our healthcare community.

What We Offer!

• Life/Work Integration
  • Paid Bereavement Leave
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Baby Bonding Leave
  • Paid Elder Care Leave
  • Paid Time Off (Accrued)
  • Paid Holidays
• Health & Wellness
  • 3 Medical Plans (Blue Cross)
  • Prescription, Dental, and Vision Coverage
  • Reimbursed Wellness Massages (Portion of cost)
  • Voluntary HSA with Company Match
  • Voluntary FSA
  • Free Employee Assistance Program (Behavioral Health Support)
  • Access to Wellness Initiatives (Fitness Memberships, etc.)
• Financial Wellness
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
  • Company-Paid Basic Life Insurance
  • Company-Paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Policy
  • Voluntary Short-Term Disability
  • Voluntary Employee, Spouse, and/or child(ren) Life Insurance, with AD&D
• Plus
  • A supportive, collaborative work environment
  • Opportunities for growth

Who We Are

Founded in 1986, Thomas Cuisine is an award-winning, privately held contract food service company. We advocate the healing power of whole foods and believe in preparing scratch-made cuisine fresh each day.Our people are purposeful, they care about food and quality, and have a desire to make a positive impact in the world through REAL food. Embark on a rewarding culinary journey with us, where your skills will not only flourish, but also contribute significantly to the satisfaction and well-being of our growing community.

Our commitment to you

At Thomas Cuisine, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging. We know that this commitment is an ongoing journey, and we will strive to improve and adapt as we grow. Our DEIB commitment is not just a statement but a living part of our company culture.

REAL Food | Genuine Service | Enduring Relationships

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.