gategourmet Is Hiring A Japanese Cuisine Sous Chef

Join Our Culinary Team — Exciting Opportunity as Sous Chef, Operations

We are seeking a skilled and passionate Sous Chef, Operations to elevate our food service for Asian airline customers. If you have a background in Asian culinary profiles and leadership experience in high-volume environments, this role is perfect for you!

🌟 Annual Hiring Range

• $70,000 - $75,000

💼 Benefits

• Paid time off
• 401(k), with company match
• Company-sponsored life insurance
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Voluntary short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Weekly pay for union employees
• Free hot healthy meals for unit operations roles

📝 Summary

Reporting directly to the Executive Chef, the Sous Chef, Operations will assist in designing and preparing meals that meet Asian culinary standards, ensuring food safety and sanitation, and leading food production efforts. This role requires culinary expertise, leadership skills, and experience with Asian cuisine, especially Japanese food, to deliver exceptional service to airline customers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure food specifications and labor objectives align with company and customer standards
• Supervise department to maintain quality, quantity, and proper documentation following FDA, USDA, HACCP, and other regulations
• Manage attendance, shift setup, employee assignments, and schedule optimization
• Order raw materials and prepare last-minute meals as needed
• Prepare daily production sheets and delegate tasks based on passenger counts
• Oversee requisitioning, training, and procedural adherence for food preparation
• Maintain safety, cleanliness, and quality standards throughout shifts
• Manage daily hot and cold kitchen production for consistency
• Ensure compliance with Wage & Hour policies, including breaks and process adherence
• Train, monitor, and coach employees for productivity and efficiency
• Schedule manpower and oversee employee retention strategies
• Handle employee development, corrective actions, and union-related pay concerns
• Ensure proper categorization of employees in cost centers and job titles
• Verify union employee pay rates based on wage scales and seniority
• Complete required training, including ServSafe certification

🎓 Qualifications

Education

• Associates degree in Culinary Arts or Culinary Arts certification preferred

Work Experience

• 1-3 years as a Chef or Sous Chef
• At least 7 years as a cook
• Experience in high-volume food production, manufacturing, restaurant, or catering preferred
• Minimum 3 years specialized in Japanese cuisine
• In-flight catering or high-volume food service experience preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to prepare meals based on detailed specifications
• Thrives in fast-paced, deadline-driven settings
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written
• Organizational, analytical, and time management abilities
• Innovative mindset with adaptability for operational improvements
• Menu design experience a plus
• Basic computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office preferred

🔖 Certifications & Licenses

• ServSafe Certified (preferred)

🗣️ Language & Communication Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication required
• Bi-lingual in Japanese is a plus

📍 Job Dimensions

• Location: USA
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Exemption: Exempt
• Internal Relationships: All production areas
• External Relationships: Airline customers

🛠️ Work Environment & Requirements

• Stand, bend, lift, and move intermittently during shifts exceeding 10 hours
• Possible discomfort due to temperature and noise in production kitchens
• Lift, push, pull, and move objects over 25 pounds
• Typical rotating schedule over 55 hours per week

💰 Budget & Team Structure

• Budget Responsibility: N/A
• Direct Manager: Executive Sous Chef or Executive Chef, Operations
• Team Size: Up to 40 staff members, depending on the unit

🌟 Core Values for Success at gategroup

Our employees are expected to embody our core values: Excellence, Passion, Responsibility, and Respect. Here is what they look like in action:

Excellence

• Prioritize customer needs and feedback to improve service
• Commit to continuous learning and self-improvement

Passion

• Demonstrate care through thoughtful and attentive service
• Maintain resilience and a growth mindset despite setbacks

Responsibility

• Act with awareness of our impact on colleagues and the environment
• Foster a safe and supportive workplace for everyone

Respect

• Value every job and contribution
• Support inclusion and foster a sense of belonging within our team

Equal Opportunity Statement

gategroup is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected categories.

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