Sous Chef - World Expo 2027, Belgrade (US National Only)

TGP International; Texas City (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sous Chef at TGP International is the Executive Chef’s second-in-command, running daily kitchen operations, driving production, quality and food safety, and leading the brigade during service to meet expo standards.

Located at the World Expo venue in Belgrade, the role requires US citizenship, a culinary qualification with HACCP certification, 5+ years in professional kitchens (2+ in sous-chef), and the ability to train staff for high-volume events.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required for this role.
• Culinary qualification and HACCP certification required.
• Minimum 5 years in professional kitchens with at least 2 years at sous-chef level.
• High-volume or events experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Run daily kitchen production and service; expedite the pass and maintain quality and timing.
• Deputise for the Executive Chef and lead the brigade during peak service.
• Ensure mise-en-place, station readiness, and consistency with recipes and standards.
• Enforce HACCP, hygiene, temperature control, allergen management and traceability.
• Lead cost control through portioning and waste discipline; oversee stock rotation.
• Deliver VIP, diplomatic and national-day menus to specification and maintain discretion.

Skills

Sous-chef experience

Line leadership

HACCP knowledge

Staff training

Sourcing constraints

Education

Culinary qualification

HACCP certification

Job description

Job Purpose

The Sous Chef is the Executive Chef's second-in-command, running the kitchen day-to-day and stepping up in the Executive Chef's absence. The post holder drives production, quality and food safety on the line, leads the brigade during service and helps deliver VIP and event menus to the pavilion's standards.

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Contract Type: Fixed-term contract — 4 months

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen operations

• Run daily kitchen production and service; expedite the pass and keep quality and timing on standard.
• Deputise fully for the Executive Chef, taking charge of the kitchen when required.
• Ensure mise-en-place, station readiness and consistent execution of recipes and specifications.

Food safety and quality

• Enforce HACCP, hygiene, temperature control, allergen management and traceability on every shift.
• Work strictly within Serbian food-safety law (HACCP mandatory) and any Expo organiser food-safety regime, including local sourcing constraints (US-origin meat and dairy are effectively restricted), cold-chain control, allergen management and Serbian-language labelling.
• Conduct line checks, tastings and quality control throughout service.

Team and cost

• Lead, train and supervise chefs de partie, commis and porters; manage the line during peak trading.
• Support food-cost control through portioning, yield and waste discipline.
• Oversee receiving, storage and stock rotation to standard.

Expo, VIP & Protocol Responsibilities

• Help deliver bespoke VIP, diplomatic and national-day menus to specification, including dietary and allergen requirements.
• Maintain the highest food-safety and quality standards for high-profile guests.
• Sustain production quality and pace through Expo surge days and extended hours.
• Uphold discretion and professionalism around VIP events.

Required Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong senior-chef / sous-chef experience in busy, quality kitchens.
• Confident line leadership and expediting.
• Thorough food-safety and HACCP knowledge.
• Ability to train and drive a brigade.
• Adaptable to constrained sourcing.

Qualifications & Experience

• United States citizenship (mandatory for this role).
• Culinary qualification; food-safety / HACCP certification.
• Minimum 5 years in professional kitchens with at least 2 at sous-chef level.
• High-volume or events experience preferred.

Acknowledgement

This job description reflects the principal duties of the role and is not exhaustive. Duties may be adjusted to meet the operational needs of the USA Pavilion at World Expo 2027. The post holder is expected to carry out reasonable additional tasks as required by the management team.