Sous Chef of Catering

University of Arkansas•Little Rock, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sous Chef of Catering is responsible for the production of menus for catering events on all campus locations. This role requires maintaining high standards of quality control, hygiene, and health and safety. The Sous Chef must be available to work night and weekend shifts with a flexible schedule to accommodate events. This position involves coordinating with the director and catering coordinator to write schedules, evaluate, and direct all team members, including work-study and practicum students. The Sous Chef will monitor and approve hours, absences, and leave, and coordinate with the director to monitor and control food and labor costs for efficient food service delivery. Additionally, the role involves coordinating with staff to order necessary ingredients, supplies, and equipment, and to complete weekly inventories and maintain records. Standardizing recipes for food service menus to ensure consistency in production and service is crucial. The Sous Chef will utilize appropriate software systems for production planning, inventory management, and catering event coordination. This role supervises and trains team members in the kitchen on job duties, including food presentation, buffets, and retail items. Ensuring high-quality food preparation according to recipes and efficient expediting to all outlets, while managing waste, is essential. The Sous Chef will maintain a food safety management system based on HACCP principles and train staff on procedures. Maintaining temperature logs for food products and storage areas, collaborating with the Executive Director and HR on staff hiring, supervision, training, and evaluation, and promptly addressing operational issues are key responsibilities. The Sous Chef also ensures catering and kitchen production equipment is properly maintained and coordinated for repairs. Maintaining appropriate certifications such as ServSafe Manager and American Culinary Federation certifications is required. Professional verbal and written communication skills, organization, attention to detail, flexibility, and adaptability are necessary. The Sous Chef will work directly with CAHMI faculty/staff/students to cater special events and coordinate with other functional areas for full-service hospitality and cleanliness. Promoting the mission of University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College and performing other miscellaneous duties as assigned are also part of the role.

Requirements

Three years of foodservice experience, including at least one year of supervisory or lead experience; OR an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts or a related field with at least two years of applicable foodservice experience.
Must have supervised at least 2 FT/PT people in the preparation of food.
Leadership and managerial abilities, including excellent organizational and communications skills.
Proficiency in inventory management and purchasing systems.
Understanding and commitment to equal access and equal opportunity.
American Culinary Federation (ACF) Certified or Certifiable as a Certified Culinarian or higher (CC or CPC).

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
3 years as Sous Chef or chef who supervised at least 2 FT people in the preparation of food.
American Culinary Federation (ACF) certified as a Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) or higher.
ServSafe certified.

Responsibilities

Production of menus for catering of events on all campus locations
Maintain high standards of quality control, hygiene, and health and safety.
Be available to work night and weekend shifts involving a flexible work schedule to accommodate events.
Coordinate with director and catering coordinator to write schedules, evaluate, and direct all team members, including work study and practicum students, as assigned. Monitor and approve hours, absences and leave.
Coordinate with director to monitor and control food and labor costs for efficient food service delivery.
Coordinate with staff to order ingredients, supplies and equipment necessary for food service operations.
Coordinate with staff to complete weekly inventories and maintain records that comply with applicable UA-PTC and government policies.
Standardize recipes for food service menus to provide consistency in production and service.
Utilize appropriate software systems to support production planning, inventory management, and catering event coordination.
Supervises and trains team members in the kitchen how to perform their job duties to the best of their abilities, including presentation of food, buffets and retail items in foodservice and all other areas needed to learn and grow in their position.
Ensures food served is of high quality, properly prepared according to recipe and is expedited to all outlets in a smooth and efficient manner while managing and tracking waste.
Maintain food safety management system based on HACCP principles to ensure that the foods are safely produced, stored and served. Train staff to follow procedures in all outlets.
Maintain temperature logs for food products and storage areas including all refrigeration, freezers, hot and cold wells.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and HR in the hiring, supervision, training, and evaluation of staff.
Coordinate with the Director to promptly address and resolve operational issues that arise in the kitchen.
Ensure catering and kitchen production equipment is properly maintained, serviced, and in safe working condition; coordinate repairs and maintenance as needed.
Maintain appropriate certifications such as ServSafe Manager and American Culinary Federation certifications.
Must possess professional verbal and written communication skills, be organized and detail oriented, be flexible and adapt to change
Work directly with CAHMI faculty/staff/students to cater special events.
Coordinates with Facilities Management, Information Technology Services, CHARTS, and other functional areas to provide full service hospitality and maintain cleanliness of event and service areas.
Promote the mission of University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College.
Other miscellaneous duties as assigned.