Sous Chef - Eckerd College

Sous Chef - Eckerd College

Our passion is food! At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Eckerd College is seeking a motivated Sous Chef to support the daily operations of its culinary program. This role is responsible for assisting in food production, menu execution, team supervision, and maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and guest satisfaction across campus dining operations.

The Sous Chef works closely with the Executive Chef and culinary leadership team to deliver fresh, innovative, and well-executed dining experiences for students, faculty, staff, and guests. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a culinary professional who is passionate about food, enjoys mentoring others, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Executive Chef in the daily management of culinary operations, ensuring high standards of food quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Supervise and support hourly culinary team members during food preparation, production, and service.
• Prepare and cook a variety of menu items for residential dining, retail operations, and special events.
• Assist with menu planning, recipe development, and implementation of seasonal and student-focused offerings.
• Support catering and campus event execution, ensuring successful production and service delivery.
• Monitor food quality, portion control, and adherence to established recipes and production standards.
• Assist with inventory management, ordering, receiving, and proper product storage.
• Help manage food and labor costs while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and workplace safety standards.
• Support the rollout of new culinary initiatives, menu concepts, and dining programs.
• Foster a positive and inclusive kitchen culture through training, coaching, and teamwork.
• Participate in campus engagement initiatives and programs designed to enhance the student dining experience.

Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent combination of education and professional culinary experience.
• Two or more years of progressive culinary experience, including experience in a supervisory or lead role.
• Experience in high-volume foodservice, higher education, hospitality, or institutional dining environments preferred.
• Catering and special event experience is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation techniques, culinary trends, food costing, sanitation, and quality control.
• Experience with batch cooking and large-scale food production preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a diverse culinary team.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and foodservice management systems.
• ServSafe Certification or the ability to obtain certification within a designated timeframe.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and special events as needed.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.