Exec Sous Chef, Ops

gategroup is a globally recognized leader in airline catering and provisioning services, dedicated to enhancing the travel experience for millions of customers every day. With an expansive footprint that spans multiple countries and a diverse range of international airline clients, gategroup delivers top-quality culinary products and services tailored to meet the unique needs of each airline. Known for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability, gategroup continuously evolves its operations to set new standards of quality and efficiency in the food production and catering industry.

This role of Executive Sous Chef is central to maintaining and elevating the high standards gategroup is known for. As an Executive Sous Chef, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Executive Chef by overseeing the day-to-day culinary operations within a large and complex catering environment. This position involves managing multiple teams of chefs, cooks, and production employees to ensure the preparation of pre-designed meals meets the strict specifications and quality demanded by a multi-customer airline account base. Your expertise will be vital in promoting quality, minimizing waste, optimizing production processes, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations across all food production areas.

The Executive Sous Chef is responsible for driving menu execution, managing ingredient inventories, and working closely with both culinary and procurement teams to ensure products meet cost and quality targets. Acting as the lead chef in the Executive Chef's absence, you will ensure that all meals are prepared according to recipe specifications and portion sizes, train employees to maintain operational excellence, and foster a safe and efficient work environment.

This role requires a blend of technical culinary skills and strong leadership capabilities. The successful candidate will have a formal culinary education, several years of progressive professional experience, and the ability to manage large production volumes in a fast-paced environment. Additional responsibilities include conducting audits, supporting strategic initiatives for quality improvement, and assisting with staff development through training and coaching.

Employment in this full-time role comes with an annual salary range of $100,000 to $105,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include paid time off, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-sponsored life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, voluntary disability and supplemental insurance coverage, employee assistance programs, commuter benefits, employee discounts, and free healthy meals for unit operations roles.

In this position, you will be working within a dynamic, highly regulated environment where maintaining compliance with HACCP, FDA, and other industry safety standards is paramount. The role demands physical stamina, the ability to lift heavy equipment or products, and a willingness to work over 55 hours per week on a rotating schedule.

The Executive Sous Chef position at gategroup offers an exciting opportunity for culinary professionals eager to join a global leader in airline catering and make a tangible impact on the customer experience through food excellence and team leadership. If you are passionate about culinary arts and thrive in a high-volume, quality-driven environment, this role promises a rewarding career trajectory and the chance to be part of a team that truly values integrity, passion, accountability, and excellence.