Sous Chef

Sous Chef

Reports to: Executive Chef, position is exempt

WHO WE ARE Hotels done differently. At Aparium, we believe in the power of People, Place and Character. We ensure our hotels are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated, elevating our associates' pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve. Our hotel is a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities where we operate. Located in the heart of Seattle's storied Pioneer Square, Populus Seattle is poised to anchor one of the country's most significant adaptive reuse developments, as one of three main historic buildings that are connected by activated alleyways. This historic building, originally constructed in 1907 as the Manufacturers Exchange Building, built of sturdy brick and heavy timber is a testament to the craft of the hands that built it - merging and weaving the historic narratives of the great continental railways and the bustling seaport of Seattle. The 120-room boutique hotel will feature Pioneer Square's first rooftop bar, a signature restaurant, a strong community connection, and design that evokes the feeling of a Pacific Northwest rainforest.

Salt Harvest will feature rustic and refined hearth inspired cuisine from the Pacific Northwest. At the heart of Salt Harvest lies a deep commitment to ingredients and seasonality. Every dish reflects the rhythm of the seasons, with an emphasis on local and fresh produce. However, the philosophy goes beyond mere seasonality—it includes the age-old practices of preservation and fermentation, ensuring that a taste of summer can brighten even the gloomiest winter day. Simplicity and Craftsmanship are the core of the kitchen's ethos. The approach is minimalist: less is more, allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves. With modern, refined techniques, each dish is crafted to elevate simplicity into something extraordinary. The focus is on precision, balance, and a deep respect for the raw materials. Above all, Passion is the Key Ingredient. Every dish tells a story—a narrative steeped in pride, history, and craftsmanship. This passion must resonate on the plate, creating an experience that makes the restaurant "sing."

The hotel is managed by Aparium Hotel Group. Founded in 2011, Aparium is driven by the belief that all hospitality experiences should be fueled by the poetics of their surroundings and was born with an intense focus on unearthing the amazing moments unique to every city. Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. Recognized by Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards as a leading hotel brand, Aparium is known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing the disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets.

WHO YOU ARE Your past experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science to the how and what hospitality operations professional is responsible for. You are committed to the Chef life and go through your day-to-day activities saying, "behind" and "hot" in your own home. Your cookbook collection is dog-eared and worn from use and has outgrown its boundaries on your shelves. Your days off are spent sharpening, obsessing over, or purchasing knives (your friends have become legitimately concerned about this, by the way). You are a mentor to your team and capable of working at any station in your kitchen but are hungry for the next step. You are an intrinsically motivated individual who finds their moment of Zen in a dining room filled with happy guests. You lead your team with a composed disposition and gentle correction, passing along your culinary acumen in the process. You have the utmost respect for the ingredients and the process: you strive to work directly with local farmers and artisans to obtain your ingredients at their height of freshness and peak of flavor. You have tremendous culinary aptitude and are just beginning your journey to understanding the financial side of the business and are eager to learn more.

THE ROLE The Sous Chef reports to and works directly with the Executive Chef, collaborating with menu planning and development, productivity, menu cost controls, and ordering processes to ensure production meets business levels. It is critical that you possess a background and basic knowledge of culinary techniques related to the F+B concept(s) for the hotel. You are a highly organized individual and an expert in constant and consistent communication, able to reinforce efficiencies while ensuring consistency in the kitchen operations. You lead the team through your collaborative approach, you understand that the ability to act as a soldier is as critical as being a general. Having the skills to mentor and teach your team of culinarians is a must for this position, as is demonstrating humility and genuine care for the items you create and the individuals who execute upon them. Our culinary teams are expected to hold themselves, the guests, and each other in high regard. You will actively develop trusting and transparent relationships with all associates throughout the hotel. You will have the opportunity to work with a phenomenal group of individuals with whom collaboration, humbleness, and open-minds are the norm—no egos are allowed. The ability to work with controlled measure and respect for your leadership team and peers is imperative; we have a no-tolerance policy for the "old school way".

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Uphold and role model the company's principles of People, Place, and Character, while encouraging your direct reports to embody our values that drive collaboration, intuitive service, and trans local hospitality
• Be a key partner with the Executive Chef, Sous Chefs, and F+B Management team, demonstrating a united front committed to providing the best possible guest experience
• Collaborate with and coach your team to uphold the integrity of the food, guest experience, cleanliness, and maintenance of the culinary spaces
• Demonstrate your aptitude of how to deliver on a guest's expectation for an amazing culinary experience, including balancing flavor combinations, considerations for temperature and texture, guest satisfaction, and menu flow
• Understanding of operational metrics (KPI's and P&L's), demonstrating critical thinking skills by connecting those with operational observations
• Coach and mentor your team on development of their skill set, technique, and menu execution, fostering an environment of continuous growth; effectively use corrective action to address root causes of issues, course-correcting any missed opportunities
• Foster open lines of communication within the department by helping to facilitate daily line ups, weekly culinary leadership meetings, and quarterly culinary all staff meetings to create a transparent dialogue among the team to voice ideas and concerns, while addressing the department's key priorities
• Actively participate in recruitment, training, scheduling, supervising, coaching, and motivation of all culinary associates in order to create an environment that nurtures ideas and develops future talent for succession planning in the culinary program
• Observe conditions of all physical facilities and equipment in the culinary operation, working in collaboration with the Chef, engineering department, and any third-party vendors to make corrections and improvements as needed
• Maintain regular communication with the Executive Chef and F+B Management team to provide updates, discuss plans, communicate needs, and align priorities, understanding that flexibility with your responsibilities is paramount to support a successful operation.

HOW YOU WILL LEAD

• Offer direct support for your team through coaching, counseling, gentle correction, and constructive feedback
• Collaborate effectively with all hotel departments including Sales, Banquets & Catering, Food & Beverage, and Hotel Operations to provide exemplary guest experience
• Be respectful in your daily interactions with your managers, direct reports, and peers, exemplifying the utmost level of professionalism and being a pillar within your community
• Be a subject matter expert in food and culinary techniques as well as understanding the history of the cuisine most closely related to the hotel food and beverage concept(s), effectively guiding others in their personal search with a gentle hand, never admonishing their lack of knowledge
• Demonstrates the beginnings of business acumen by ensuring that initiatives align with operational goals and budgets; shows passion to further develop this skill set

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Five or more years of progressive culinary experience required, preferably in a multi-service hotel or restaurant
• Must be flexible and available to work both AM and PM shifts.
• Passion for culinary arts, experience in a wide range of cuisines
• Basic skills in Microsoft Excel and Word to create spreadsheets and proposals
• Adaptable interpersonal communication skills to address all employee levels of the hotel
• Proficiency of the English language in reading, writing and verbal communication
• Ability to calculate basic math principles to meet proper menu ingredients and perform inventory
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment for extended periods of time to meet high volume business
• Ability to lift, balance and carry up to 25 lbs. to transport dry goods inventory, equipment, etc.
• Ability to lift, balance and carry (with assistance) up to 1