Sous Chef

Location: Palo Alto, CA
Job Type: Full-time, In Person
Pay: $73,500 - $81,500 per year

A successful, high-volume restaurant in Palo Alto is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to join its culinary leadership team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on kitchen leader who loves being in the action. We're looking for someone who can lead a busy service, manage expo, coach and develop a large BOH team, and confidently take ownership of the kitchen when the Chef is not there.

This is not a desk-heavy or primarily menu-development role. The right Sous Chef enjoys cooking, thrives during high-volume service, and leads from the floor.

What You'll Do

• Help lead daily BOH operations in a high volume restaurant
• Run expo and maintain strong ticket times, communication and execution during service
• Step onto the line and cook alongside the team whenever needed
• Take ownership of kitchen operations when the Chef is off
• Coach, train and develop cooks and BOH team members
• Maintain consistency in food quality, preparation, presentation and execution
• Support inventory, ordering and vendor communication
• Help manage food cost, labor, waste and other key operating metrics
• Maintain high standards for food safety, sanitation and kitchen organization
• Assist with hiring, training and performance management
• Build a positive, respectful and accountable kitchen culture

What We're Looking For

Above everything else, we're looking for leadership, attitude and humility.

The ideal Sous Chef has:

• Previous Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager or culinary leadership experience in a busy, high-volume restaurant
• Strong line-cooking skills and the ability to work multiple stations when needed
• Experience running expo and controlling a demanding service
• Confidence leading and developing a large BOH team
• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to jump in wherever needed
• Experience with inventory, ordering, food cost, labor and waste controls
• Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
• Excellent communication, organization and decision-making skills
• A dependable, proactive and low-ego approach to leadership
• Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as required by restaurant operations

Spanish-speaking ability is strongly preferred, particularly the ability to communicate effectively with a Spanish-speaking BOH team.

A culinary degree is preferred but not required. Equivalent hands-on restaurant experience is absolutely welcome.

The Operation

This is a substantial, high-volume restaurant operation with approximately $8M-$10M in annual sales and a 30-40 person BOH team.

We're looking for someone who has worked in a true volume environment and understands how to balance speed, consistency, quality, labor and team leadership during demanding services.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $73,500
• Annual Performance Bonus: Up to $8,000
• Bonus opportunity tied to restaurant performance, including sales, labor and food-cost metrics

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Medical health insurance with significant employer contribution
• Company-paid dental insurance
• Vision insurance available
• 15 paid vacation days annually
• Additional unpaid vacation eligibility after one year
• Manager meals during shifts

Interview Process

Our interview process is practical and designed to give both sides a clear understanding of the opportunity:

• Initial video interview
• Interview with culinary leadership
• In-person meeting and approximately 2-4 hour restaurant stage
• Professional reference checks

Work Location: In person – Palo Alto, CA