Gecko Hospitality Is Hiring An Executive Sous Chef

Join a Renowned Italian Restaurant as an Executive Sous Chef or Chef de Cuisine 🍽️

We are a vibrant, 92-seat modern Italian restaurant in West Springfield, MA, celebrated for over 21 years of culinary excellence and a commitment to a 100% scratch kitchen philosophy. Our focus on local ingredients and fresh seafood creates a dynamic dining experience, with a dinner-only service from Tuesday to Saturday that encourages a healthy work-life balance.

About the Role

We are seeking an ambitious, hands-on, and creative Executive Sous Chef or Chef de Cuisine to lead our passionate culinary team of 6-10 members—including line cooks, pantry cooks, and a sous chef. This role offers the opportunity to craft exceptional farm-to-table Italian dishes and inspire a talented team.

Responsibilities

• Execute a high-end, farm-to-table Italian menu emphasizing seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, and cured meats
• Develop and refine menus that highlight creativity and authenticity
• Manage kitchen operations including food cost control, labor scheduling, and profit & loss oversight
• Lead, mentor, and train a diverse, experienced kitchen staff, fostering skill development and teamwork
• Work alongside the team during dinner service to ensure consistency, quality, and timely execution
• Maintain strict adherence to recipes, protocols, and organizational systems to ensure operational excellence
• Oversee quality assurance to uphold the highest standards in every dish served

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in Mediterranean and/or Italian cuisine; candidates from Italy or with Italian heritage preferred 🇮🇹
• Mastery of all mother sauces and advanced scratch cooking techniques
• Culinary degree strongly preferred 🎓
• Organized, creative, and structured mindset thriving in a system-oriented kitchen environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of direct experience in Italian cuisine

About Gecko Hospitality

Named to Forbes' list of America’s Best Recruiting Firms in 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, Gecko Hospitality offers the largest selection of opportunities across restaurant, catering, grocery, corporate dining, senior living, healthcare, K-12, and higher education food service industries. Our dedicated team spans all 50 states and Canada, with over 120 hospitality experts committed to connecting candidates with leading employers.

Why Choose Gecko?

• Extensive network of industry relationships and a trusted reputation for career growth
• Comprehensive placement services tailored specifically to hospitality professionals
• We get your resume in front of the industry’s top decision makers