Senior Sous Chef - Spanish Cuisine / Full-Service Restaurant

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Sous Chef to support the culinary leadership of a high-energy Spanish tapas restaurant in Nashville. The ideal candidate has a strong background in fine dining, upscale casual, chef-driven, or high-volume full-service restaurants and thrives in a fast-paced scratch-kitchen environment.

The Sous Chef will oversee daily kitchen operations, lead and develop the culinary team, maintain food quality and consistency, and ensure smooth execution during busy services.

Compensation

• Salary: $55,000–$65,000 annually
• Location: Nashville, TN
• Experience: 3+ years of hospitality experience with progressive kitchen leadership

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Operations

• Oversee daily kitchen operations and ensure all stations are properly set, stocked, and service-ready.
• Lead and support culinary staff by assigning stations, delegating workload, and maintaining strong communication.
• Work all kitchen stations, including expo , as needed.
• Lead execution during high-volume services while maintaining food quality, consistency, and ticket times.

Food Quality & Execution

• Maintain high standards for food preparation, presentation, portioning, and consistency.
• Support scratch cooking and execution of creative, Spanish-inspired tapas.
• Ensure recipes, preparation standards, sanitation, and food-safety procedures are consistently followed.

Inventory & Cost Control

• Assist with ordering, receiving, inventory counts, and proper product storage.
• Inspect deliveries for quality and accuracy.
• Manage prep levels, product rotation, and waste reduction.
• Assist with controlling food and labor costs .

Menu & Administrative Support

• Assist with new menu rollouts, recipe execution, and kitchen organization.
• Support scheduling and staffing needs.
• Help identify opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency and profitability.

Team Leadership

• Participate in interviewing and hiring culinary team members.
• Train, coach, and develop new and existing kitchen staff.
• Build a professional, accountable, and collaborative kitchen culture.
• Lead by example during demanding service periods.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hospitality experience with progressive culinary leadership.
• Proven experience as a Sous Chef, Lead Line Cook, Kitchen Manager, or equivalent kitchen leader .
• Strong background in fine dining, upscale casual, chef-driven, or high-end full-service restaurants .
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced kitchen operations .
• Strong scratch-cooking and station-execution skills.
• Experience with inventory, ordering, food cost, labor management, and waste control.
• Strong team-training and leadership abilities.
• Spanish cuisine, tapas, wine-driven dining, or similar culinary experience is highly preferred.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.

Company Description

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.