Sous Chef

Portland, TX, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Employee Discounts

Retirement Plan

Meal Allowances

Professional development opportunities

Job Description

Water Street Restaurants is a prominent dining establishment known for its commitment to quality, exceptional service, and a strong mission, vision, and values framework. As part of a dynamic hospitality group, Water Street Restaurants emphasizes culinary excellence, customer satisfaction, and a team-oriented work culture that encourages growth and innovation. The company operates multiple restaurant locations, each upholding rigorous standards to deliver a memorable dining experience for every guest. With a focus on maintaining high standards, Water Street Restaurants continually strives to exceed health and safety regulations, demonstrating a dedication to both staff and patrons alike. The company values integrity, passion, and professionalism, creating a work environment where employees are motivated to perform at their best while embodying the organization’s principles as expressed through 'MVV' cards, which clearly communicate the mission, vision, and values.

The Sous Chef role at Water Street Restaurants is a vital, multifaceted position within the culinary team. This role is designed for an experienced culinary professional who not only has strong cooking skills but also embraces leadership responsibilities, operational management, and staff development. The Sous Chef is charged with upholding the restaurant’s mission and values through their daily actions and leadership style, ensuring the entire kitchen team performs efficiently and adheres to high standards of hygiene, safety, and food quality. The position involves assisting with menu development, refining recipes, and monitoring kitchen goals that align with the restaurant’s vision.

In this role, the Sous Chef plays a critical part in maintaining a score of 90 percent or better on health department inspections and mystery shopper reports, which reflects the establishment’s commitment to excellence. The Sous Chef enforces dress code policies and standards of service among kitchen staff, manages day-to-day kitchen operations, facilitates effective communication, and trains new and existing staff to work cohesively under the company's policies and rigorous health regulations. They also have responsibilities related to vendor communication, inventory management, and cost control, including food and labor expenses. Physical and mental endurance is essential, as the role requires prolonged periods of standing, lifting heavy items, and working in diverse environmental conditions ranging from cold refrigerators to hot cooking areas. Success in this position demands mental alertness, clear communication skills, and the ability to work productively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Job Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Minimum of 3 years of kitchen management or sous chef experience
Ability to stand and walk for 6 to 10 hours per day
Ability to lift and carry weights between 40 and 75 pounds without assistance and up to 150 pounds with assistance
Capability to push, pull, and maneuver objects up to 150 pounds
Good corrected vision and hearing
Mental alertness and ability to communicate effectively
Capacity to follow instructions and safely use kitchen equipment
Ability to work in temperature ranges from 38 to 350 degrees
Ability to tolerate high noise levels
Physical ability to bend, stoop, twist, and perform repetitive hand movements

Job Qualifications

Proven experience as a sous chef or in a similar chef role
Strong knowledge of cooking methods, kitchen equipment, and best practices
Ability to manage a team and lead by example
Excellent communication and leadership skills
Experience in food cost control and inventory management
Familiarity with health and safety regulations
Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred
Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
Commitment to upholding company mission, vision, and values

Job Duties

Maintain knowledge of Water Street Restaurants mission, vision, and values as expressed on 'MVV' cards and actively practice these standards
Achieve a score of 90 percent or better on all health department inspections and mystery shopper reports
Enforce kitchen dress code including uniform, grooming, and appearance standards
Comply with and enforce standards of service for kitchen employees
Assist in managing day-to-day kitchen operations
Develop menus and/or refine recipes
Establish, execute, and monitor kitchen goals and kitchen design
Train kitchen staff to work effectively and efficiently under company policies and health regulations
Facilitate regularly scheduled meetings for effective communication with kitchen staff
Assist in hiring cooks and dishwashers
Assist in staff scheduling
Perform line cooking and/or supervise line
Expedite guest orders
Conduct quality control of all food products
Facilitate kitchen to server communication and training
Assist in reviewing and evaluating plate costs
Manage blackboard responsibilities as assigned
Utilize waste effectively
Control overall costs including food and labor
Communicate with vendors including check-ins and ordering
Conduct regular inspections of machinery and address deficiencies promptly