Sous Chef - Luxury Independent Living Community

Prime Independent Living; Gastonia (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Prime Independent Living in Gastonia, NC seeks a talented Sous Chef to guide daily kitchen operations, mentor the culinary team, and deliver high-quality, hospitality-driven meals for residents, families, and guests.

Work with Executive Chef to execute menus, seasonal offerings, and special events while maintaining safety, sanitation, and cost controls. If you are passionate about great food and aging adults, join a supportive team committed to meaningful dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead a culinary team and maintain high standards of quality and presentation.
• Strong knowledge of food safety/sanitation practices and ServSafe compliance.
• Experience with inventory management, cost controls, and kitchen operations.
• Commitment to hospitality and delivering exceptional dining experiences for residents and guests.

Responsibilities

• Support daily kitchen operations to ensure exceptional quality, consistency, and service.
• Lead food preparation and execution across meal periods while maintaining high standards for taste and presentation.
• Assist the Executive Chef with menu execution, daily features, and seasonal offerings.
• Help ensure smooth, efficient kitchen operations and timely meal service.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional kitchen environment.
• Train, mentor, and support culinary team members in daily operations and best practices.
• Collaborate on special events, holiday meals, and community celebrations.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Food safety

Team training

Inventory management

Hospitality focus

Job description

Sous Chef - Prime Gastonia

Bring Great Food, Teamwork & Hospitality to Every Meal!

Prime Independent Living is seeking a talented, service-driven Sous Chef to help create exceptional dining experiences for residents, families, and guests.

At Prime, dining is more than a meal-it's an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and enhance everyday life. As Sous Chef, you'll work closely with the Executive Chef / Culinary Director to support daily kitchen operations, guide the culinary team, and ensure every meal reflects our standards for quality, consistency, presentation, and hospitality.

If you're passionate about great food, enjoy working alongside a strong team, and want to bring your culinary skills to an environment where your work makes a meaningful difference, we'd love to meet you!

Responsibilities

Culinary Operations & Execution

• Support daily kitchen operations to ensure exceptional quality, consistency, and service.
• Lead food preparation and execution across meal periods while maintaining high standards for taste and presentation.
• Assist the Executive Chef / Culinary Director with menu execution, daily features, and seasonal offerings.
• Help ensure smooth, efficient kitchen operations and timely meal service.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional kitchen environment.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead by example and help create a kitchen culture rooted in teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and hospitality.
• Train, mentor, and support culinary team members in daily operations and best practices.
• Provide hands-on leadership during meal preparation and service.
• Assist with scheduling and staffing to support operational needs.
• Foster a positive, collaborative environment where team members can thrive.

Resident Experience & Hospitality

• Help create dining experiences residents look forward to each day.
• Support special dietary needs, preferences, and requests with care and attention to detail.
• Partner with the Executive Chef / Culinary Director and community team to maintain a hospitality-driven resident experience.
• Help ensure every meal reflects Prime's commitment to service, quality, and resident satisfaction.
• Bring creativity and attention to detail to daily meals and special dining experiences.

Inventory & Operational Support

• Assist with purchasing, inventory management, receiving, and proper product rotation.
• Monitor food usage and help minimize waste while maintaining quality standards.
• Support food and labor cost controls and overall department efficiency.
• Ensure proper storage, labeling, and organization of food and supplies.

Safety, Sanitation & Quality

• Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure proper food handling, preparation, storage, and cleaning procedures are consistently followed.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized working environment.
• Support ongoing quality assurance and continuous improvement efforts.
• Hold and maintain required ServSafe certification.

Special Events & Community Collaboration

• Support holiday meals, themed dining experiences, special events, and community celebrations.
• Assist with catering and special functions from preparation through execution.
• Collaborate with other departments to help create memorable experiences for residents and guests.
• Step into additional culinary leadership responsibilities as needed to support the Executive Chef / Culinary Director.

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Lead Cook, Kitchen Supervisor, or similar culinary leadership role.
• Experience in hospitality, restaurant, country club, resort, healthcare, or senior living environments preferred.
• Strong culinary skills and knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, and presentation.
• Proven ability to lead, train, and support a culinary team.
• Experience with inventory management, food cost control, and kitchen operations.
• Thorough understanding of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
• ServSafe certification required.
• Strong communication, organization, and time-management skills.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Passion for hospitality and creating exceptional dining experiences.
• Genuine appreciation for serving older adults and enhancing quality of life through dining.

Why Prime?

At Prime Independent Living, we're creating communities where older adults can live well, live fully, and enjoy meaningful experiences every day. Our team members play a vital role in making that vision a reality.

If you're looking for an opportunity to grow your culinary career, be part of a great team, and create dining experiences that truly matter, we'd love to meet you!