CHEF, EXECUTIVE SOUS I

Compass Group • Urbana, IL

1d • $60,000 - $67,000

About The Position

An industry leading hospitality food service group, Unidine is driven by its exceptional people sharing their passion, creativity and talent to craft memorable guest experiences. Unidine’s commitment to scratch cooking, innovative programs, venue concepts and services continues to push boundaries and modernize dining programs for hundreds of clients around the nation. Our restaurants, bars, cafeterias and bistros offer a place for guests to enjoy something extraordinary. That is why we believe that using the freshest ingredients makes for the best dishes, staying ahead of industry trends pushes us to be innovative, and giving team members the right tools and resources helps them to perform their best. Come and join our award-winning team!
This position is eligible for an Employee Referral Bonus! If you know someone that is qualified for this role, please use the ‘job search’ in PeopleHub to refer your referral and email them a link to apply. Your referral will be able to apply by clicking the link in the email. You can check the status through your profile, accessible via Careers in PeopleHub, by clicking on ‘referral tracking.’ For Employee Referral guidelines, FAQs and the Compass Employee Referral Policy, email [email protected]. Job SummaryThis individual will be responsible for supporting the Executive Chef in overseeing kitchen operations while maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment for the staff. You will prepare or direct the preparation of meals in accordance with corporate programs and guidelines.
This Sous Chef I role is a hands-on, production-focused position and is a strong opportunity for experienced line cooks ready to move from an hourly role into a salaried position.
This role offers a clear increase in earning potential compared to traditional hourly line cook positions, with a salary of up to $65,000 per year. It is ideal for culinary professionals with experience in high-volume batch cooking and production who want to continue cooking while gaining leadership and operational experience.
The position also offers Flexible Time Off, meaning time off is not capped at a set number of days per year and can be taken as needed, provided business needs and performance expectations are met.
As part of a large, established company, this role provides long-term career development, internal advancement opportunities, and a stable work environment.

Requirements

• B.S. Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Services Technology/Management/or related field; or A.O.S. Degree in Culinary Arts with additional specialized training
• 3-5 years of relevant culinary experience
• Mastery of a wide variety of kitchen positions and stations
• Ability to think on their feet, as well as create, produce, and serve on the fly
• Knowledge of food cost and how it pertains to a kitchen, product and quality identification
• Must be experienced with computers; to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point), Outlook, E-mail and the Internet
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and oral/written communication skills
• Strong culinary production experience required; high-volume or batch cooking experience preferred
• Experience in restaurants, corporate dining, education, healthcare, military, hotels, or similar food service operations
• Solid understanding of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen organization
• Ability to follow and execute production sheets and standardized recipes
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience is a plus, but motivated line cooks ready to grow are encouraged to apply
• ServSafe or Department of Health Certification preferred
• Basic computer skills, including familiarity with Excel, preferred
• Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts preferred, or equivalent professional experience

Responsibilities

• Ensures that high quality food items are creatively prepared and presented in a cost effective manner
• Assists in all phases of planning, ordering, inventory, and food preparation
• Supports the management of cost controls and control expenditures for the account
• Rolls out new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams
• Supervises co-workers to ensure the cleanliness, organization, and overall sanitation of the kitchen
• Motivates, trains, develops, and directs the back of house employees preparing and cooking foods to accomplish the objectives of the operation
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Actively participate in hands-on cooking, high-volume batch cooking, and daily food production
• Assist with planning and executing menus and production schedules
• Ensure all food meets company standards for quality, freshness, and presentation
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations
• Assist with ordering, inventory management, and cost controls
• Utilize and help maintain production sheets and standardized recipes
• Support the rollout of new culinary programs in collaboration with culinary and marketing teams
• Help train and support back-of-house associates through hands-on leadership
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

• This position is eligible for an Employee Referral Bonus!
• Flexible Time Off (time off is not limited to a set number of days per year)
• Long-term career growth and advancement opportunities within a large organization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level