Sous Chef

Job Description

Job Description

Sous Chef

Salt + Soil — San Diego, CA Part-time, 24 hours per week to start with a path to full-time · $26.00–$30.00 per hour

About Salt + Soil

Salt + Soil is an organic, seed-oil-free meal delivery and private chef company based in San Diego. We cook everything from scratch in our commercial kitchen using whole ingredients and strict sourcing standards, producing a rotating weekly menu for our meal delivery subscribers along with custom menus for private chef clients. We are a small, growing team led by our co-founder and Head Chef.

Position Summary

The Sous Chef is second-in-command in the kitchen and reports directly to the Head Chef. This position is accountable for the quality and timeliness of the full day's production, including work performed by other kitchen staff. The Sous Chef supervises prep cooks on shift, enforces food safety and sanitation standards across the kitchen, and is expected to run a full production day independently when the Head Chef is not present.

This role was created as the direct pipeline to our Kitchen Manager position. Promotion criteria and the associated pay rate are defined below.

Responsibilities

• Execute high-volume prep and cooking for the weekly meal delivery menu and private chef clients, to recipe and on schedule
• Supervise and direct prep cooks on shift, ensuring their work meets Salt + Soil standards
• Enforce food safety and sanitation procedures across the entire kitchen, not solely at your own station
• Take ownership of the daily production schedule in the Head Chef's absence
• Monitor ingredient quality and inventory levels, escalating shortages before they affect production
• Maintain a clean and organized kitchen on a clean-as-you-go standard
• Assist with receiving, storage, and rotation of organic produce, proteins, and dry goods
• Support portion consistency and recipe accuracy across all menu items
• Report production issues, equipment problems, and quality concerns to the Head Chef promptly

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional kitchen experience, including ownership of a station or a service
• Demonstrated ability to run a full production shift without direct supervision
• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
• Valid California Food Handler Card, or ability to obtain one before the start date
• Strong knife skills and consistent execution against written recipes
• Reliable attendance and punctuality
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and remain standing for the duration of an 8-hour shift

Preferred Qualifications

• ServSafe Manager certification; Salt + Soil will sponsor certification if not currently held
• Experience in scratch-cooking, whole-ingredient, or organic-focused kitchens
• Experience training or supervising junior kitchen staff
• Background in high-volume meal production, catering, or commissary environments
• Interest in organic, seed-oil-free, and Mediterranean cuisine

Schedule

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Twenty-four hours per week to start, expanding to four or five days as production volume grows.

This is a daytime schedule with no nights, no Friday or Saturday service, and no split shifts.

Compensation and Advancement

Sous Chef: $26.00–$30.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Kitchen Manager, the next step: $30.00–$40.00 per hour, four to five days per week.

Advancement to Kitchen Manager is based on defined criteria rather than tenure. Candidates become eligible when they can independently run a full production day to the Head Chef's quality standard, own food safety and the prep plan, and direct kitchen staff without the Head Chef's involvement. Performance is formally reviewed at 90 days and quarterly thereafter.

Additional benefits include an employee discount on Salt + Soil meals and sponsored ServSafe Manager certification.

Salt + Soil is an equal opportunity employer.

Salt + Soil is an organic, seed-oil-free meal delivery and private chef company based in San Diego. We cook everything from scratch in our commercial kitchen using whole ingredients and strict sourcing standards, producing a rotating weekly menu for our meal delivery subscribers along with custom menus for private chef clients. We are a small, growing team led by our co-founder and Head Chef.

Company Description

Salt + Soil is an organic, seed-oil-free meal delivery and private chef company based in San Diego. We cook everything from scratch in our commercial kitchen using whole ingredients and strict sourcing standards, producing a rotating weekly menu for our meal delivery subscribers along with custom menus for private chef clients. We are a small, growing team led by our co-founder and Head Chef.