Sous Chef

Gategroup is a global leader in airline catering and related services, delivering exceptional culinary experiences worldwide. The company has built a strong reputation for excellence, passion, responsibility, and respect, making it a trusted partner for airlines around the globe. Gategroup emphasizes a collaborative and inclusive culture, fostering a work environment where diversity and continuous improvement are valued and celebrated. With a commitment to safety and quality, the company stands at the forefront of the airline catering industry, providing innovative solutions and high-quality food products tailored to meet the unique needs of its customers.

The Sous Chef role at Gategroup plays a critical part in supporting the Executive Chef in planning, preparing, and managing Chinese and Asian cuisine specifically designed for airline catering operations. This position is pivotal in ensuring all meals meet the highest culinary standards while adhering to stringent food safety and hygiene protocols such as FDA, USDA, and HACCP regulations. The Sous Chef supervises kitchen operations, manages labor and production schedules, and optimizes resources to deliver consistent and high-quality culinary experiences for passengers.

In this role, the Sous Chef assists in designing meals that cater to the tastes of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong airline customers, with added knowledge of Japanese culinary profiles to enhance menu diversity. They oversee day-to-day kitchen activities, ensuring food quality, consistency, and sanitation standards are meticulously maintained. Additionally, the role involves managing staff schedules, assigning tasks, ordering raw materials, and controlling inventory to align with production needs and labor objectives.

Training, coaching, and mentoring kitchen staff is a core responsibility, with the Sous Chef providing guidance on proper food preparation, safety procedures, and work efficiency to build a skilled and motivated team. Cost control measures are also a key aspect, as the Sous Chef monitors production costs, labor usage, and waste, ensuring compliance with company policies and union agreements.

The position requires collaboration in menu planning, recipe development, and making production adjustments to continually improve operational performance. Maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and food safety throughout the kitchen and production areas is essential, as is fostering a positive work environment through effective leadership and motivation of the culinary team.

The Sous Chef at Gategroup is also responsible for preparing production reports, monitoring key performance indicators, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing both food quality and operational efficiency. This role is ideal for a culinary professional with significant experience in high-volume kitchens, particularly those with expertise in Chinese cuisine and familiarity with Japanese cuisine.

Offering a salary range of $70,000 to $73,000 per year, the company values candidates with strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills who can effectively train and mentor staff. An associate degree in Culinary Arts or relevant certification is preferred, along with ServSafe certification and proficiency in basic computer skills. Bilingual skills in Mandarin and prior experience in in-flight catering or large-scale food service environments are advantageous. Gategroup provides a range of benefits to support its employees' well-being and work-life balance, creating a rewarding career path in the airline catering industry.