Catering Sous Chef

Schedule : Early-morning opening shift, typically beginning at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m.
flexibility for occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and 1-2 off-premise events per month.

Are you a culinary leader with a passion for excellence and a love of collaboration? Dish Food & Events, an award-winning catering and events company in NYC, is seeking a Catering Sous Chef to join our dynamic team. With over 18 years of experience creating unforgettable events, we're known for our warm hospitality, delicious and innovative cuisine, and a team-focused culture that empowers every team member to thrive.

As Catering Sous Chef, you will report to the Executive Chef and work closely with the Executive Sous Chef and Executive Pastry Chef to turn culinary plans into exceptional food for every event. This hands-on production leadership role opens the kitchen, leads the daily team, and ensures food is prepared safely, consistently, and on time.

Key Responsibilities

• Open and organize the kitchen for the day: verify early orders, review production priorities, lead pre-shift huddles, assign prep and family-meal responsibilities, and keep the team moving with purpose.

• Execute daily prep lists and production plans with the Executive Sous Chef; work alongside prep cooks to ensure dishes meet Dish standards for flavor, presentation, portioning, and consistency.

• Lead, coach, and hold kitchen and event-kitchen team members accountable for professionalism, punctuality, communication, sanitation, and readiness to work at the scheduled start time.

• Maintain a clean, safe, organized commissary in compliance with NYC Department of Health requirements, including food safety, storage, labeling, cleaning, and daily organization.

• Support accurate production, packing, and service readiness by checking quantities, equipment needs, packing standards, and serving guidance before events leave the commissary.

• Assist with inventory, ordering, food-cost awareness, kitchen labor, supplies, and preventive maintenance; identify issues early and bring practical solutions to culinary leadership.

• Attend select off-premise events (approximately 1-2 per month) to understand event execution, support the event kitchen team, and maintain quality control.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional culinary experience, including at least 1 year in a lead, supervisory, or management role.
• Experience in high-volume catering, event production, restaurants, or a comparable fast-paced kitchen environment.

• Strong production cooking skills and a sharp eye for flavor, quality, portioning, and presentation.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse team with clarity, consistency, and respect.

• Comfort working early-morning shifts and staying calm, organized, and solutions-oriented during high-volume production.

• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices; NYC Department of Health Food Protection Certificate required.

• Working knowledge of inventory, food costing, kitchen labor, and production planning.

• Clear communication skills in English; Spanish proficiency is strongly preferred.

Culture & Core Values

• Embody Dish's Mission, Core Values, and Heart Hospitality standards in every interaction and event.

• Foster positive, proactive communication across Culinary, Operations, Events, and the broader Dish team.

• Contribute to a supportive, collaborative, and accountable work environment.

• Actively participate in Dish's Culture & Growth Program, including regular 1:1s, check-ins, and annual performance reviews.

Compensation + Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of $72,000-$78,000, based on experience.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off, paid holidays, paid family leave, sick pay, and short- and long-term disability insurance.

• 401(k) plan after 12 months of full-time employment and commuter benefits.

• Paid Volunteer Time Off and daily family meal.

Dish Food & Events provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and team members without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.