Sushi Chef

Talently; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Talently in Washington, DC is seeking a hands-on Head Sushi Chef to lead sushi operations at a major sports and entertainment venue. You will oversee high-volume sushi programs during events, concerts, and activations, ensuring consistency, quality, sanitation, and speed.

The ideal candidate brings advanced sushi expertise, strong seafood knowledge, and proven leadership to train and mentor a diverse kitchen team, optimize prep and service, and collaborate on menus and specials.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on sushi and Japanese culinary skills with knife work and rice prep.
• Proven leadership in high-volume sushi operations with team supervision.
• Deep seafood knowledge, receiving, storage, sanitation, and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day sushi kitchen and sushi bar operations.
• Execute high-quality sushi, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, rice, and specialty items.
• Oversee seafood receiving, handling, storage, and preparation.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, presentation, consistency, and timing.
• Train, coach, and supervise sushi and kitchen team members.
• Manage prep, station setup, breakdown, and service execution.
• Monitor inventory, pars, ordering, and product quality.
• Maintain strict sanitation, food safety, and health-code standards.
• Collaborate with management on menus, specials, and event offerings.
• Adjust staffing and production based on event volume and business needs.
• Maintain a positive, professional, team-oriented kitchen culture.

Skills

Advanced Sushi & Japanese Culinary EXP

High-Volume Sushi Operations LEADERS

Seafood Quality & Food Safety

Job description

Skills

Sushi Preparation, Japanese Cuisine, Seafood Handling, Knife Skills, Sushi Rice Preparation, High-Volume Production, Kitchen Leadership, Food Safety & Sanitation, Menu Execution, Team Training & Development

About Company / Opportunity

A national hospitality group is seeking a Head Sushi Chef to lead sushi operations at a major sports and entertainment venue in Washington, DC. This is an opportunity to oversee a high-volume sushi program in a dynamic event environment, supporting major sporting events, concerts, and other large-scale activations.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on sushi professional with strong Japanese culinary fundamentals, excellent seafood knowledge, and proven leadership experience. This person will be responsible for maintaining consistency, quality, sanitation, and speed while leading a team through high-volume service.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day sushi kitchen and sushi bar operations.
• Execute high-quality sushi, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, rice, and specialty items.
• Oversee seafood receiving, handling, storage, and preparation.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, presentation, consistency, and timing.
• Train, coach, and supervise sushi and kitchen team members.
• Manage prep, station setup, breakdown, and service execution.
• Monitor inventory, pars, ordering, and product quality.
• Maintain strict sanitation, food safety, and health-code standards.
• Collaborate with management on menus, specials, and event offerings.
• Adjust staffing and production based on event volume and business needs.
• Maintain a positive, professional, team-oriented kitchen culture.

Must-Have Skills

• Advanced Sushi & Japanese Culinary Expertise – Strong hands-on experience with sushi, sashimi, nigiri, Japanese knife skills, rice preparation, seafood handling, and presentation.
• High-Volume Sushi Operations Leadership – Proven experience leading a sushi kitchen or team in a high-volume restaurant, hotel, catering, stadium, arena, or event environment.
• Seafood Quality & Food Safety – Deep knowledge of seafood selection, receiving, storage, temperature control, sanitation, and food safety standards.

Nice to Have Skills

• Luxury / Upscale Sushi Experience – Background in high-end sushi restaurants, luxury hotels, resorts, or premium dining concepts.
• Sports & Large-Scale Event Experience – Experience operating sushi or culinary programs in stadiums, arenas, catering, festivals, or other high-volume event environments.
• Menu Development & Cost Control – Experience creating or refining sushi menus, managing food costs, controlling inventory, and developing recipes/SOPs for consistent execution.