Food Service - Sous Chef

Roger Williams Zoo, in partnership with SSA Group, offers a unique culinary experience within a renowned cultural attraction setting. For more than 50 years, SSA has specialized in creating exceptional hospitality experiences tailored for museums, zoos, aquariums, and other cultural venues. SSA's integrated approach combines admissions, culinary, and retail services with innovative strategies and a human-centric touch to deliver seamless and memorable guest journeys. This commitment to excellence is embodied in their 452 Hospitality philosophy, emphasizing people, operational intelligence, and innovation to make a lasting community impact. Roger Williams Zoo's culinary department reflects these values by focusing on quality, sustainability, and guest satisfaction.

The Sous Chef role at Roger Williams Zoo is an opportunity to contribute to this vibrant hospitality environment by directly supporting the Executive Chef. The Sous Chef will play a critical role in supervising culinary operations, ensuring food quality, and maintaining safety and sanitation standards. This position is full-time and non-exempt, offering eligibility for overtime pay and a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 15% company match, paid time off, and paid leave options for personal and family medical needs. The role demands expertise in food preparation, leadership, and financial management while fostering inclusive team dynamics and sustainable practices. As part of SSA's commitment to IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) and belonging, the Sous Chef will actively promote an inclusive culture and support community engagement initiatives.

Key responsibilities include creating competitive, high-quality food products, menu pricing, event preparation, employee training, and compliance with health codes including HACCP and ServSafe standards. The Sous Chef must demonstrate leadership in managing payroll, inventory, and employee relations while maintaining operational excellence in a fast-paced environment. Physical stamina and flexibility in working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, are required to meet the dynamic event-driven nature of the zoo's culinary operations. This role is vital for delivering the warm, welcoming, and memorable experiences that 452 Hospitality promises to every guest and client, fostering a food service environment that not only satisfies but delights visitors and supports staff growth and development.