Job Description
We are seeking a dependable, experienced, and hands-on Sous Chef to support daily culinary operations at an established Italian restaurant in Smithfield, VA. This is an opportunity for a seasoned culinary professional who takes pride in authentic Italian cuisine, consistent food quality, and building a strong kitchen team.
The ideal candidate will bring experience in Italian cuisine, preferably within an independent, family-owned, or smaller restaurant environment. Beyond cooking ability, this person must be a reliable leader who can support kitchen management, coach team members, maintain operational standards, and help create a positive, accountable kitchen culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Support and oversee daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and service execution
- Maintain consistent food quality, presentation, portioning, and recipe standards
- Prepare and execute Italian dishes while maintaining the integrity of the restaurant's culinary concept
- Work closely with management to develop seasonal menus and creative daily specials
- Create, cost, document, and execute recipes and menu items
- Train, coach, and mentor kitchen staff to improve performance and consistency
- Assist with hiring, interviewing, onboarding, and employee development
- Manage food and labor costs, inventory, purchasing, receiving, and product storage
- Monitor kitchen profitability and support budget and P&L objectives
- Conduct regular inspections of kitchen, dishwashing areas, and equipment
- Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health-code standards
- Communicate professionally with kitchen and front-of-house teams, especially during busy service
- Resolve operational challenges quickly while maintaining a calm, solutions-oriented approach
- Promote teamwork, accountability, respect, and continuous improvement
Ideal Candidate
- 3+ years of Sous Chef, Executive Chef, Head Chef, or comparable kitchen leadership experience
- 6+ years of total professional kitchen experience
- Italian cuisine experience strongly preferred
- Background in family-owned, independent, or smaller upscale-casual/full-service restaurants is a plus
- Strong understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, kitchen equipment, and food preparation
- Demonstrated experience managing food costs, labor costs, inventory, and kitchen financial performance
- Proven ability to lead, coach, hire, and train kitchen employees
- Experience creating seasonal specials, costing recipes, and maintaining consistent execution
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a sense of urgency
- Reliable, mature, and accountable, with the ability to lead by example
- Calm and effective under pressure with strong problem-solving skills
- Proficient in basic Microsoft Excel and Word
- Current ServSafe Food Safety Certificate required
- High school diploma or equivalent required
The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit-ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.
Company Description The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit-ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.