Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager

Location: Apizza Alimentari, Fayetteville, New York Reports to: Chef Job Description: A Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager assists the Executive/Head Chef in overseeing all kitchen operations, maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation, and ensuring a seamless dining experience for guests. The Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager collaborates with a skilled culinary team, leads by example, and contributes to menu development while adhering to established recipes and guidelines. Creativity, leadership abilities, and attention to detail are essential in upholding a restaurant's reputation for excellence. Key Responsibilities: Culinary leadership: Collaborate with the Head Chef in menu planning, recipe development, and overall culinary strategy. Lead the kitchen team by example, demonstrating culinary skills, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence. Kitchen operations: Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow. Manage the preparation, cooking, and presentation of dishes, maintaining high standards of quality and consistency. Menu development: Contribute to menu planning, offering creative input and ensuring a diverse and appealing selection. Adapt menus to accommodate seasonal ingredients and guest preferences in accordance with Exec Chef. Staff supervision and training: Train and mentor kitchen staff, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. Conduct regular training sessions on culinary techniques, safety procedures, and hygiene standards. Quality control: Maintain rigorous quality control measures to ensure that every dish meets the established standards. Conduct regular tastings and inspections to uphold the culinary excellence of the establishment. Inventory management: Manage kitchen inventory, including ordering, receiving, and storage of ingredients. Implement cost control measures to optimize kitchen expenses while maintaining quality as directed by Exec Chef. Adherence to health and safety standards: Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, implementing best practices to maintain a safe and hygienic kitchen environment. Conduct regular inspections to identify and rectify potential hazards. Collaboration with culinary team: Work closely with other members of the culinary team, including pastry chefs, line cooks, and kitchen assistants, to ensure seamless coordination. Collaborate with the front‑of‑house staff to meet guest expectations and address special requests. Scheduling and shift planning: Assist in creating staff schedules as directed, taking into account business demands and individual team members’ availability. Manage shift rotations and breaks to maintain an efficient and motivated kitchen team. Event catering (Future): Oversee catering operations for special events, ensuring a high standard of culinary execution. Collaborate with event planners to customize menus for private functions and banquets. Continuous learning and development: Stay abreast of culinary trends, techniques, and innovations, integrating new concepts into the menu. Attend workshops, culinary events, and training sessions to enhance personal and team skills when applicable. Guest interaction: Interact with guests when necessary, addressing feedback, accommodating special requests, and ensuring a positive dining experience. Cost management: Collaborate with the Head Chef on budgeting and financial planning for the kitchen department. Implement strategies to minimize food wastage and control operational costs. Recipe standardization: Develop and document standardized recipes to maintain consistency in taste, presentation, and portion sizes. Ensure that recipes are easily replicable by kitchen staff. Essential Skills: Exceptional culinary skills and a deep understanding of various cooking techniques, flavor profiles, and presentation styles. Strong leadership abilities with the ability to motivate and inspire a team, fostering a positive, inclusive work culture. Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively. Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations, ensuring strict adherence to health code standards. Passion for quality food, creativity, and staying updated with industry trends and innovations. Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment while maintaining attention to detail. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with team members and interact professionally with guests. Qualifications: Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred. Proven experience as a Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager or Senior Station Chef in a high-volume, fast‑paced restaurant environment. Compensation and Benefits: Vacation/Sick Time 401(k) Options Partial pay health Insurance opportunities dependent on full‑time status of 30 hours or more per week Competitive wages Food and Beverage Allowance Growth Opportunities Performance Review Cycles Clear management structure #J-18808-Ljbffr