Sr Sous Chef

Compass Group Careers; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/AD&D

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appetit Management Company in Portland, OR seeks a Senior Sous Chef to lead a high-volume culinary program serving breakfast through late-night service. You will oversee a team of about 46 culinary staff and manage approximately 2,100 daily transactions, ensuring top-tier food quality and guest satisfaction.

You will participate in menu development, production planning, catering execution, and cost management, while upholding food safety and sanitation standards and mentoring junior cooks to

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of a high-volume culinary program.
• Strong focus on menu development, catering, and guest satisfaction.
• Emphasis on food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience coaching and developing culinary teams and bench strength.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations for high-volume program across multiple meals.
• Lead and develop a team of culinary staff, coaching and directing daily operations.
• Support menu development and writing, seasonal features and catering menus.
• Lead food preparation to ensure quality, consistency, and timely service.
• Collaborate with catering to execute events and planning.
• Manage inventory, ordering, receiving, and product control.
• Monitor food cost management and portion control.
• Oversee forecasting, production planning, and labor management.
• Maintain safety and sanitation standards and regulatory compliance.
• Train and mentor culinary associates to build bench strength.

Skills

Leadership

Team leadership

Menu development

Food safety

Culinary excellence

Cost management

Forecasting

Training & development

Job description

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Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Working as the Senior Sous Chef, you will play a critical leadership role in the successful operation of a high-volume culinary program serving approximately 2,100 transactions daily across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night service. Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will help oversee daily kitchen operations, lead and develop a team of approximately 46 culinary employees, and ensure exceptional food quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction.

This position is ideal for an energetic, hands‑on culinary leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and possesses strong culinary, operational, and team development skills. The Senior Sous Chef will be actively involved in menu development, production planning, catering execution, food cost management, and maintaining the highest standards of food safety and sanitation.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef in overseeing all culinary operations for a high-volume, multi-meal period program serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night offerings.
• Provide daily leadership, coaching, and direction to a large culinary team, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Support menu development and menu writing initiatives, including seasonal features, daily specials, and catering menus that align with client expectations and operational goals.
• Lead food preparation and production activities to ensure quality, consistency, presentation standards, and timely service execution.
• Partner with the catering team to execute events successfully, providing culinary leadership, planning support, and operational expertise for a variety of catering functions.
• Assist with inventory management, ordering, receiving, and product control to ensure operational efficiency and minimize waste.
• Support food cost management efforts through recipe adherence, portion control, proper utilization of products, and budget awareness.
• Help monitor purchasing, receiving, and storage practices to maintain food quality while ensuring compliance with company standards.
• Participate in forecasting, production planning, and labor management to support efficient kitchen operations.
• Maintain strict adherence to food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards, ensuring regulatory compliance at all times.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary leadership team to implement new culinary programs, menus, and operational initiatives.
• Assist in training, mentoring, and developing culinary associates to build bench strength and support career growth opportunities.
• Promote a culture focused on hospitality, culinary excellence, innovation, and exceptional guest experiences.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug‑free workplace.