Commercial Airline Catering - Sous Chef
About The Position
Abby’s Catering is the longest-standing in-flight and corporate catering company in Houston, proudly serving the Houston & Dallas Metro markets. We specialize in chef-crafted cuisine using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Our reputation is built on exceptional service, impeccable food safety, and a memorable customer experience with every flight. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in quality, safety, accountability, and teamwork — and we are looking for leaders who share these values. The Sous Chef leads daily hot & cold culinary production to ensure all Abby’s Catering menu items meet quality, safety, and airline presentation standards. This position collaborates with the Executive Chef to maintain HACCP compliance and short-order operations within a 24/7 environment.
Requirements
- 3+ years culinary leadership experience in high-volume environments
- Ability to thrive in cold-room production as low as 36°F for extended periods
- Rotating shifts, weekends, and holiday availability required
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
- Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
- Ability to read/interpret airline plating instructions and batch recipes
- Computer skills including Microsoft Office and basic production systems
- Reliable, proactive, and able to work independently
- High School Diploma or equivalent required
- Food Handler / Food Safety Manager Certification required (ServSafe or equivalent)
- Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. — no sponsorship available
Nice To Haves
- Culinary Arts certificate or degree preferred
- Aviation or airline catering experience a strong plus
Responsibilities
- Maintain daily compliance with all Food Safety, HACCP, and traceability standards
- Ensure accurate logs, conduct audits, and document/resolve deviations promptly
- Enforce sanitation and personal hygiene policies across production teams
- Maintain a hazard-free workspace and uphold safety protocols at all times
- Ensure aviation regulatory and airline-specific standards are met consistently
- Oversee correct handling, cleaning, and sanitation of all kitchen equipment and tools
- Ensure equipment and workspaces are cleaned, sanitized, and properly stored
- Report equipment issues promptly and ensure corrective actions are completed
- Support workflow improvements and kitchen efficiency initiatives
- Lead, train, and supervise culinary crews for high-performance execution
- Conduct daily production meetings and coordinate prep priorities by flight schedules
- Verify compliance with recipes, portion standards, and plating instructions
- Deliver finished products on time to meet Kitchen Departure Times for all flights
- Control cost through portion control, waste reduction, FIFO rotation, and labor oversight
- Provide food safety and plating technique training to front-line staff
- Maintain a clean, organized production environment across all shifts
- Promote teamwork, communication, and a positive work culture
- Support menu launches, production tests, and special airline programs
- Perform additional responsibilities assigned by the Executive Chef
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
