Sous Chef

Aerotek is a leading staffing and recruiting agency with a strong presence in the North American labor market, specializing in connecting skilled workers with reputable employers across various industries. Founded in 1983, Aerotek has established itself as a trusted partner for both job seekers and employers, facilitating over 180,000 placements annually and maintaining over 250 offices across the continent. The agency’s deep industry knowledge and extensive network enable it to offer a broad range of career opportunities, from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies to long-term roles that address critical labor needs in construction, manufacturing, maintenance, and more.

This particular job opportunity is for a Junior Sous Chef - Facility Quality Control & Compliance in a high-volume kitchen located at a major airport facility in San Francisco, CA. This temporary, contract role spans approximately 3 to 4 weeks, with potential for extension or conversion to a permanent position for the right candidate. Unlike traditional culinary positions, this role does not involve cooking. Instead, the Junior Sous Chef focuses exclusively on ensuring rigorous facility quality control and compliance with food safety standards. This includes diligent verification of labeling accuracy, temperature control, sanitation standards, and meticulous documentation to keep the facility audit-ready at all times. The kitchen operates across two primary shifts, requiring flexibility to cover either shift: from 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM or 2:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

In this role, you will be responsible for thorough inspections of walk-in refrigerators, reach-in units, and freezers according to established standard operating procedures. You will verify the proper labeling, coverage, wrapping, and storage of items—ensuring allergen separation and cardboard separation standards are strictly maintained. An essential part of your job is to identify expired or improperly stored items and promptly report them for corrective action. Additionally, you will ensure that clean dishes and utensils are properly stored—dry, inverted, and contamination-free—and that all surfaces, including sinks and walls, remain clean and free of debris or standing water. Your duties extend to maintaining cleanliness of floor drains and ensuring janitorial tools are stored appropriately.

You will also oversee the availability and validity of crucial supplies such as dish pucks and sanitizer test strips while verifying the safe storage of chemicals separate from food contact areas to uphold a safe working environment. Regular review and comparison of digital and paper log records are vital to ensuring compliance and identifying missing or incorrect entries that need escalation. Maintaining strict adherence to use-by date policies and documenting all relevant records accurately is another critical component of this role. You will enforce established standard operating procedures professionally and consistently, taking independent initiative to complete inspections and reports with a high level of detail and organization. Collaboration with culinary, dishwashing, and janitorial teams is integral to the smooth operation of this busy kitchen facility.

Aerotek’s client offers a structured, professional environment that values precise food safety and quality control standards. Employees benefit from union eligibility after the probation period, free onsite parking, and a reputation for supporting reliable, detail-oriented professionals in a fast-paced but well-managed kitchen operation. Compensation is competitive with a flat rate of $33.00 per hour, and a comprehensive benefits package may be available during the temporary assignment. The job demands a T-badge for secure airport access and is best suited for candidates with previous foodservice experience who are comfortable working independently and enforcing compliance within a rigorous operational framework.

Joining Aerotek means becoming part of a workforce that is positively impacting industries while advancing your own career through meaningful, well-supported employment opportunities. This position is ideal for a candidate seeking to develop specialized expertise in food safety and compliance while contributing to a critical airport foodservice facility. It is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience in quality control without the pressures of cooking, while working alongside seasoned professionals in a dynamic and high-volume setting.