Sous Chef – Polished Casual Scratch Kitchen | Chattanooga, TN

Goodwin Recruiting; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Profit-sharing bonus

Management training program

Career advancement opportunities

Closed holidays

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting is partnering with an award-winning group to hire a Sous Chef for a high-volume scratch kitchen in Chattanooga, TN. You will lead from the front, coach the BOH team, and collaborate with the Executive Chef to deliver exceptional food quality in a fast-paced setting.

The role offers a base salary of $65,000–$70,000 with an uncapped profit-sharing bonus ($7,000–$12,000+), paid time off, comprehensive benefits, and a clear path to an Executive Chef role through a structured

Qualifications

• Two or more years of culinary management experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant.
• Scratch kitchen experience required.
• Hands-on butchering experience required.
• Experience with corporate restaurant systems.
• Experience in restaurants with $4M+ annual sales preferred.
• Strong skills in food cost, labor, inventory, purchasing, and kitchen operations.
• Proven ability to coach and develop kitchen teams.
• Stable employment history with clear career progression.
• Polished casual/upscale casual/full-service restaurant background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee back-of-house operations with the Executive Chef.
• Lead daily food production and ensure recipe consistency.
• Coach and develop hourly kitchen staff.
• Maintain high food quality, cleanliness, and sanitation.
• Assist with scheduling, inventory, purchasing and vendor relations.
• Help manage food cost, labor cost and productivity.
• Involve in hiring, onboarding, training and retention.
• Perform butchering and portion control to brand standards.
• Lead kitchen in the Executive Chef's absence.
• Collaborate with leadership to deliver an outstanding guest experience.

Skills

Culinary management

Butchering

Scratch kitchen

Corporate restaurant systems

Cost & labor management

Job description

Sous Chef – Award-Winning Scratch Kitchen | Chattanooga, TN

Lead the Kitchen. Develop Great People. Grow Your Career.

We're partnering with an award-winning polished casual restaurant group to identify an exceptional Sous Chef for one of its high-volume scratch kitchen restaurants. This opportunity is ideal for a hands-on culinary leader who enjoys leading from the front, coaching kitchen teams, and delivering exceptional food quality in a fast-paced scratch kitchen. You'll partner closely with the Executive Chef to oversee daily back-of-house operations while preparing for future advancement into an Executive Chef role.

This organization has built a reputation for scratch cooking, wood-fired cuisine, outstanding hospitality, and promoting talented leaders from within. If you're looking for more than your next Sous Chef position—and instead want to build a long-term career with a stable, growing company,we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary is based on experience, typically in the range of $65,000 to $70,000
• Uncapped profit-sharing bonus with annual earning potential of approximately $7,000–$12,000+
• Paid every four weeks
• Three weeks of paid time off
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with discretionary company match after one year
• Structured 10-week management training program
• Leadership development and advancement opportunities
• Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
• Early closure on Christmas Eve

What You'll Do

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee all back-of-house operations.
• Lead daily food production and ensure consistent recipe execution.
• Coach, mentor, and develop hourly culinary team members.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, cleanliness, and sanitation standards.
• Assist with scheduling, inventory management, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
• Help manage food cost, labor cost, and kitchen productivity.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and retaining high-performing BOH team members.
• Perform and supervise butchering and portion control while maintaining brand quality standards.
• Lead kitchen operations during the Executive Chef's absence.
• Partner with restaurant leadership to deliver an outstanding guest experience.

What We're Looking For

• Two or more years of culinary management experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant.
• Scratch kitchen experience required.
• Hands-on butchering experience required.
• Experience working within corporate restaurant systems.
• Experience working in restaurants generating approximately $4 million or more in annual sales is preferred.
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor management, inventory, purchasing, and kitchen operations.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and retain kitchen team members.
• Stable employment history with demonstrated career progression.
• Polished casual, upscale casual, or high-volume full-service restaurant experience strongly preferred.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Clear career path to Executive Chef.
• Work for a company that promotes from within.
• Join an established, financially stable restaurant group.
• Be part of a people-first culture focused on leadership development.
• Lead alongside a collaborative management team committed to operational excellence and hospitality.