Sous Chef Job Description
Sous chefs are the second person in command in most kitchens. It’s their job to support the head chef as they work together to create the best dishes possible. The specifics of this role can vary based on the type of kitchen the sous chef works in.
That being said, sous chefs typically have an extensive list of responsibilities. This can involve creating new menu items, purchasing ingredients, supervising kitchen staff, cooking, and ensuring that the restaurant’s quality standards are consistently met. A sous chef may perform tasks like these for a restaurant, care facility, hotel, cruise ship, or catering service.
Sous Chef Job Description Template
Our restaurant is looking for a talented sous chef to join our team. You will be the second person in command in our kitchen and will be given wide-ranging responsibilities. Most importantly, you will help bring our executive chef’s vision for the restaurant to life. This can involve completing tasks like creating new dishes for the menu, recruiting new employees, managing kitchen staff, cooking, and more.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have exceptional cooking skills. Additionally, you will need to have strong leadership and communication abilities, as you will often be tasked with leading the kitchen staff through busy dinner services. Qualified candidates will have previous experience in a kitchen leadership role. We’d love to hear from you if you believe that you possess all of these traits.
Sous Chef Responsibilities:
- Work with our executive chef to create new additions to our menu on a seasonal basis
- Help the kitchen with its preparation work before meal services
- Assist the executive chef in managing the kitchen staff
- Follow all food health and safety requirements
- Assist in the development of kitchen staff by performing periodic performance reviews
- Monitor inventory and order new ingredients as needed
- Recruit and train new kitchen employees to help the restaurant reach its goals
Sous Chef Requirements:
- Minimum of two years worth of experience in a similar position
- Culinary science degree preferred
- Demonstrable knowledge of cooking practices and kitchen equipment
- Ability to lead a team with excellent communication
- Basic understanding of MS Office and other restaurant software programs
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced setting
Sous Chef FAQ
What tasks does a sous chef do?
As a kitchen’s second in command, sous chefs may perform a wide variety of tasks to support the restaurant. This can involve everything from hiring new staff to cooking during dinner service.
Other tasks that a sous chef may handle include: training staff, ordering food, creating new dishes for the menu, and instructing junior chefs on new techniques. It’s also essential that all sous chefs follow and tell their staff to follow the best practices for food health and safety.
Can I use your sous chef job description template?
Yes, you can use our template if you’d like. However, you’ll want to customize it to make sure that the requirements of your position are captured accurately. For example, maybe you’re hiring a sous chef for a hotel instead of for a restaurant. In this scenario, you would likely have additional requirements or responsibilities that haven’t been captured here.
What should I include in my sous chef help-wanted ads?
We recommend following the template that we’ve laid out above. Begin with a strong opening paragraph that captures the reader’s attention. Then, move into lists that cover the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Try to use language that packs a punch. Your goal is to make your help-wanted ads as appealing as possible to ensure that you attract as many qualified candidates as possible.
