Sous Chef

Job Title: Sous Chef Department: Culinary

FLSA: Salaried -Exempt Status: Full Time

Reports to: Chef de Cuisine

Customary Days: Sunday - Saturday

Customary Hours: Varies to include evenings, holidays, and extended hours as business requires.

At Blue Plate Catering, we Care Moreabout food quality, team growth, and creating memorable guest experiences. We are seeking a driven and collaborative Sous Chef to support kitchen operations, contribute to culinary innovation, and help lead our talented culinary team.

Position Summary

The Sous Chef works closely with the Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chef to manage kitchen operations, support culinary staff, and deliver high-quality food consistently. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing production, supporting recipe and menu development, maintaining food and safety standards, and helping drive Blue Plates culinary excellenceboth on-site and at client events.

Essential Functions:

Culinary Leadership & Team Management

• Assist in supervising kitchen staff including hiring, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Actively support day-to-day kitchen operations across all areas: hot line, cold kitchen, and butchering .
• Step in and assist on the hot line, cold line, or butchering station during peak periods or as business needs require.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and uniform policies.
• Monitor and maintain food quality, portion control, and plating standards across all departments.
• Participate in bi-weekly production meetings and coordinate with the sales and operations teams to ensure flawless event execution.
• Lead and mentor team members in a way that reflects our Care More valueinvesting in their growth, well-being, and success.

Production & Ordering

• Oversee purchasing and inventory alongside designated team members; place food and supply orders and ensure accuracy.
• Participate in monthly inventory and CaterXpert system management.
• Assist in maintaining and recommending repairs for kitchen equipment.

Event Execution

• Participate in bi-weekly production meetings to confirm all kitchen details with sales and operations staff, making arrangements to obtain information missed if not in attendance.
• As needed, work in the field as an Event Chef, following Event Chef guidelines in order to achieve total guest satisfaction.

Culinary Development

• Collaborate with the Executive Chef on special menu creation and recipe development.
• Help standardize recipes, portion sizes, and prep documentation.
• Present new culinary ideas and tastings to the internal sales team and external clients.
• Contribute to business development efforts including RFPs and menu proposals.
• Participate actively in client tastings, making appearances as requested.
• Review event orders with Event Chefs to give thorough explanations of methods and presentation.

General

• Act as a team player and perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine.

Education and Experience: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Culinary Arts degree or advance culinary arts certification is preferred
• 6 years of successful experience within the hospitality industry, preferably with catering or hotel food service.
• Completion of City of Chicago Department of Public Health Certified Food Service Manager certification preferred, or ability to complete the certification within 90 days after date of hire.

Essential Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactory. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Blue Plate is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA):

• Ability to demonstrate strong affinity for Blue Plates mission: Our mission is to care more for others through food and service experiences that turn our partners vision into reality
• Impeccable service standards and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prepare and deliver clear, concise reports and presentations that are understandable by the target audience
• Ability to manage confidential information and maintain its integrity
• Ability to effectively solve problems and make decisions in a fast paced, high pressure environment.
• Ability to work effectively across all functional departments and foster a cooperative work environment
• Results oriented, with focus on continuous improvement
• Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within a fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems
• Proven leadership with the ability to inspire others to work toward a common goal and reach their potential
• Proven ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously, data analysis, setting and meeting organizational goals, and time management

Language Skills

Ability to read, write and speak English proficiently. Bilingual skills preferred.

Physical Demands: The physical demands describe here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Blue Plate is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA):

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, taste and smell.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to feel; reach with hand and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch for 6 to 8 hours at a time.
• Regularly required to lift and/or move up to 60 lbs.
• Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close range, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Blue Plate is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA):

• May work in extreme heat and cold (non-weather and weather).
• May work in wet conditions (non-weather and weather).
• Noise level is low to moderate.
• May work near toxic/caustic chemical and with fumes or airborne particles.
• Will work near moving or mechanical parts.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range: $60,000 $80,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• At Blue Plate Catering, we live our core value: We Care More. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects our commitment to supporting our teams well-being and growth. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, and paid time off (PTO) with sick leave.
• Additional benefits such as commuter benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), free meals, and pet insurance options ensure our team feels valued. We also offer wellness rewards, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and resources to help you thrive in work and life.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility at Blue Plate

At Blue Plate, We Care More and that means creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered. Our hiring practices focus on equity and potential, and we partner with diverse communities to ensure opportunities are accessible to all. From onboarding to growth, we offer tailored support and inclusive development programs. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to help us create memorable food and service experiences together, we go beyond to make a difference.

Blue Plate Catering complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment, including protections related to race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information