Executive Sous Chef at Compass Group in Washington

Salary: 80,000-85,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

The Executive Sous Chef is a hands-on culinary leader responsible for partnering with the Executive Chef to oversee all aspects of café and catering operations within a dynamic, fast-paced foodservice environment. This role provides leadership for daily kitchen operations, menu execution, team development, and culinary innovation while helping deliver exceptional guest experiences across breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and catered events. Working collaboratively with the Executive Chef, the Executive Sous Chef will lead a diverse culinary team, contribute to globally inspired menu development, and ensure consistent execution of high-quality food programs that reflect evolving culinary trends and client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Chef to direct all daily culinary operations for a high-volume café and catering program, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead and develop a culinary team consisting of Sous Chefs, cooks, dishwashers, and front-line café leadership through coaching, training, and performance management.
• Collaborate on the development of seasonal menus, catering offerings, features, and globally inspired culinary programs that showcase a variety of international cuisines and current food trends.
• Oversee food production and execution for café service averaging $20,000-$25,000 in weekly sales and catering operations averaging $10,000-$30,000 weekly, including large-scale quarterly events.
• Work alongside the Executive Chef to strategically divide operational responsibilities between café and catering functions based on business needs, volume, and event schedules.
• Ensure excellence in breakfast, lunch, and happy hour service while maintaining flexibility to support occasional special events and after-hours functions throughout the year.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with purchasing, inventory management, receiving, recipe adherence, waste reduction, and food cost management initiatives.
• Drive consistency in culinary execution by monitoring production processes, quality standards, and plating presentations across all service platforms.
• Partner with operations and client stakeholders to support special programs, promotional events, and unique guest experiences.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, innovation, and hospitality throughout the culinary operation.
• Serve as the culinary leader in the absence of the Executive Chef, ensuring smooth and effective operation of all kitchen and catering activities.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Culinary Arts, culinary certification, or equivalent combination of professional training and progressive culinary leadership experience.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant, hospitality, catering, or corporate dining environment.
• Demonstrated success leading diverse culinary teams and developing talent in a fast-paced operation.
• Experience executing both daily café service and complex catering programs with multiple service formats and event sizes.
• Strong culinary foundation with experience preparing and executing a variety of global cuisines and contemporary food trends.
• Proven ability to collaborate on menu development, recipe creation, seasonal offerings, and catering programs.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP principles, sanitation standards, and best practices in kitchen operations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, changing business demands, and event schedules simultaneously.
• Experience with inventory controls, purchasing processes, labor deployment, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a collaborative leadership style.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and foodservice management systems.
• ServSafe Manager Certification preferred.
• Availability to support a primarily Monday-Friday daytime schedule, with occasional special events scheduled in advance.

Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID: 1589279

Bon Appetit

BRYAN GONI