Sous Chef – Award-Winning Scratch Kitchen | Gainesville, VA

Lead the Kitchen. Develop Great People. Grow Your Career.

We're partnering with an award-winning polished casual restaurant group to identify an exceptional Sous Chef for a high-volume restaurant in Gainesville, VA

This opportunity is ideal for a hands-on culinary leader who enjoys leading from the front, coaching kitchen teams, and delivering exceptional food quality in a fast-paced scratch kitchen. You'll partner closely with the Executive Chef to oversee daily back-of-house operations while preparing for future advancement into an Executive Chef role.

This organization has built a reputation for scratch cooking, wood-fired cuisine, outstanding hospitality, and promoting talented leaders from within. If you're looking for more than your next Sous Chef position—and instead want to build a long-term career with a stable, growing company—we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Compensation & Benefits

• $55,000–$65,000 base salary
• Uncapped profit-sharing bonus (typically $7,000–$12,000+ annually)
• Paid every four weeks
• Three weeks of paid time off
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with discretionary company match after one year
• Structured 10-week management training program
• Leadership development and advancement opportunities
• Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
• Early closure on Christmas Eve

What You'll Do

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee all back-of-house operations.
• Lead daily food production and ensure consistent recipe execution.
• Coach, mentor, and develop hourly culinary team members.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, cleanliness, and sanitation standards.
• Assist with scheduling, inventory management, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
• Help manage food cost, labor cost, and kitchen productivity.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and retaining high-performing BOH team members.
• Perform and supervise butchering and portion control while maintaining Firebirds' quality standards.
• Lead kitchen operations during the Executive Chef's absence.
• Partner with restaurant leadership to deliver an outstanding guest experience.

What We're Looking For

• Two or more years of culinary management experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant.
• Scratch kitchen experience required.
• Hands-on butchering experience required.
• Experience working within corporate restaurant systems.
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor management, inventory, purchasing, and kitchen operations.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and retain kitchen team members.
• Stable employment history with demonstrated career progression.
• Polished casual, upscale casual, or high-volume full-service restaurant experience strongly preferred.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Clear career path to Executive Chef.
• Work for a company that promotes from within.
• Join an established, financially stable restaurant group.
• Be part of a people-first culture focused on leadership development.
• Lead alongside a collaborative management team committed to operational excellence and hospitality.

If you're interested in learning more about this confidential Sous Chef opportunity, we'd welcome the opportunity to have a confidential conversation.