Food Service - Jr Sous Chef

SSA Group, LLC • Cincinnati, OH

19d • $17 - $18

About The Position

The Jr Sous Chef supports kitchen operations at an SSA location, helping ensure the restaurant is properly prepared and staffed for daily service. The role oversees kitchen duties and helps maintain food safety, quality, availability, merchandising, and guest-service standards. It creates daily prep and item lists, delegates work, supports service as needed, maintains cleaning and planning checklists, and inspects, cleans, and performs routine maintenance on equipment.

Working with the Sous Chef, Food Service Operations Manager(s), and restaurant supervisors, the Jr Sous Chef helps assign duties, coach and develop employees, train new hires, conduct performance reviews, and manage performance documentation with oversight from the operations manager. The role monitors employee attendance, payroll discrepancies, and break management; responds to guest and client feedback; and ensures operations follow applicable laws and company policies.

The position also promotes an inclusive and supportive team environment, supports sustainability and conservation efforts, and encourages community engagement. Candidates need 1–2 years of culinary experience and must be able to work varied hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and meet the physical demands of standing for extended periods and handling boxes weighing 10–35 pounds.

Requirements

• 1–2 years of culinary experience.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate with the General Manager and personnel.
• Leadership skills and an understanding of team building and development, including fostering partnerships with other branch managers.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills and the ability to stay organized.
• Multitasking, attention to detail, analytical, planning, and leadership skills.
• Ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• Team-oriented, personable, professional, upbeat, and energetic approach; takes initiative and uses tact and diplomacy.
• Computer knowledge and skills sufficient for basic office functions.
• Physical ability to stand for extended periods and move and handle boxes weighing 10–35 pounds as needed.
• Ability to work varied hours and days, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Responsibilities

• Deliver warm, welcoming, and memorable experiences for guests and clients in line with 452 Hospitality.
• Ensure the restaurant or location is adequately prepared and staffed in the back of house for daily operations.
• Oversee kitchen duties and ensure quick-service, food-service, safety, quality, availability, merchandising, and guest-service standards are met.
• Oversee safety logs, including food temperatures, rotation, and waste.
• Ensure staff follow uniform, hygiene, handwashing, and glove-use requirements.
• Support SSAfety training in knife handling and ensure direct reports properly use knives and slicers.
• Create daily preparation and item lists and delegate tasks as needed.
• Support operations and fill staffing or task gaps to maintain smooth service.
• Maintain checklists for routine and daily cleaning, ongoing projects, and menu planning.
• Assist the Sous Chef in assigning duties and coaching associates on projects, daily tasks, and guest interactions.
• Respond to guest and client feedback and report it to the operations manager to help prevent recurring issues.
• Train new employees and issue performance reviews.
• Manage and issue progressive performance documentation with oversight from the operations manager.
• Report employee attendance and hour discrepancies to payroll and oversee break and rest-break management for back-of-house employees.
• Inspect equipment and perform routine maintenance and cleaning as necessary.
• Help complete daily tasks to ensure work is finished in a timely manner.
• Communicate daily service or quality issues to the Sous Chef and Food Service Operations Manager(s).
• Work with restaurant supervisors to ensure locations operate to standard.
• Supervise in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment and uphold company policies and procedures.
• Promote an inclusive and supportive approach within the Brand team and across units, remove barriers, and empower team members' growth and opportunity.
• Lead by example in sustainability and conservation efforts, share knowledge of their business application, and provide teaching opportunities for unit staff.
• Engage with SSA and the unit in community activities and opportunities to give back.
• Perform other tasks as necessary.

Benefits

• Eligible for overtime pay.
• On-Demand Pay Program providing access to a portion of earned wages before payday.
• Meal plan and employee discounts at applicable locations.
• 401(k) program with a 15% company match, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Tuition discount through a partnership college.
• Up to 8 hours of bereavement leave.
• Holiday pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
• Paid sick leave in accordance with applicable state and local laws, with accrual and usage rules varying by location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed