Sous Chef

Los Angeles, CA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $70,000.00 - $80,000.00

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Employer HSA contributions

lifestyle spending account

401k with employer match

Paid Time Off

education assistance program

Employee assistance program

Leadership referral bonuses

Job Description

The Proud Bird is a renowned culinary landmark located in Los Angeles, uniquely blending aviation history with culinary innovation. Known as a bustling, aviation-inspired food hall, it offers a combination of multiple diverse culinary concepts under one roof along with a high-volume special events center that overlooks the LAX runway. Its distinctive location and concept recently earned it the title of LA's Hottest Food Hall by Food Network, emphasizing its standing as an iconic destination for food lovers and guests seeking an unforgettable dining experience.

The company prides itself on maintaining an award-winning hospitality team dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences. The Proud Bird's commitment to culinary excellence, operational precision, and customer satisfaction positions it as a leader in the competitive Los Angeles food and events scene. The establishment offers a dynamic work environment characterized by fast-paced, multi-concept food operations and large-scale event hosting.

We are looking for a talented and dedicated Sous Chef to join our team. This role is critical to the culinary leadership at The Proud Bird, supporting daily kitchen operations across various food hall outlets and our bustling events center. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced kitchens and brings extensive experience in culinary leadership, operational discipline, and team development. If you are passionate about scratch cooking, enjoy handling large-scale events, and can lead with charisma and precision, this is the ideal role for you.

As a Sous Chef, you will manage a variety of responsibilities that include leading culinary operations, ensuring quality and consistency in food preparation, maintaining kitchen safety and sanitation standards, and cultivating a collaborative kitchen culture. This role involves training and mentoring cooks and kitchen leads, overseeing inventory and food cost controls, and collaborating closely with front-of-house leaders to guarantee smooth service flow.

The position offers a competitive salary range of $70,000 to $80,000 annually, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your lifestyle and growth. Benefits include comprehensive medical and dental plans, employer HSA contributions, a lifestyle spending account for wellness and other personal expenses, 401k with employer match, paid time off including vacation and holidays, and educational assistance programs. The Proud Bird values leadership and offers referral bonuses, fostering a supportive and rewarding workplace environment.

This opportunity provides a platform to grow your culinary career in a setting that celebrates innovation, precision, and teamwork. You will play a pivotal role in upholding the established standards of excellence and contributing to an environment where creativity and discipline coexist to delight every guest. The Proud Bird is committed to equal employment opportunities and maintaining a drug-free workplace, welcoming applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our passionate team.

Job Requirements

3-5 years of culinary leadership experience
experience in sous chef or higher culinary roles
demonstrated high-volume restaurant or banquet kitchen experience
understanding of multi-outlet or food hall kitchen operations preferred
ability to lead diverse culinary teams effectively
knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
strong culinary skills and operational discipline

Job Qualifications

3-5 years of culinary leadership experience including Sous Chef or higher roles
high-volume restaurant and banquet experience
strong understanding of multi-outlet or food hall operations is a major plus
proven ability to lead and motivate diverse culinary teams
solid knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen compliance standards
strong culinary foundations and technical cooking skills
natural leader with excellent communication and emotional intelligence
calm and organized under pressure
detail-oriented with strong follow-through
strong organizational and prep management abilities
ability to drive consistency and uphold brand standards

Job Duties

Lead daily culinary operations for food hall outlets, banquets, and special events
ensure consistent execution of recipes, plate presentations, flavor profiles, and portioning
maintain a clean, safe, efficient kitchen that meets all health and sanitation standards
foster a collaborative, high-performing culinary culture
train, mentor, and support cooks and leads across multiple outlets
uphold culinary standards and drive accountability on every station
assist in hiring, development, and performance management of the culinary team
partner closely with FOH leaders to maintain pacing, communication, and service flow
conduct line checks, quality checks, and recipe adherence audits
ensure large events, banquets, and high-volume days are executed with precision
manage ordering, receiving, and inventory for assigned outlets
support food cost management, waste reduction, and product utilization
maintain accurate prep lists, par levels, and daily production schedules
collaborate with the Events team to execute major events, corporate meetings, weddings, and community celebrations
ensure event menus are executed flawlessly from prep to production to service
oversee event-specific culinary timelines and staffing allocations