Sous Chef

Hope Mission Statement

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

Position Purpose and Summary 

The Chef de Cuisine sets the direction for HTM's kitchen. The Sous Chef makes sure the kitchen can execute it — every shift, across every station, with the culinary team that is actually on the floor. That is not a supporting role. It is a leadership role that requires both technical mastery and the ability to develop the people around you.

Reporting to the Chef de Cuisine with a direct relationship to the Executive Chef, the Sous Chef supports the full scope of HTM's culinary operations. This includes collaborating on menu planning and special event development, directly leading and mentoring the culinary team, enforcing sanitation and food safety standards, managing ordering and inventory, and ensuring all food is prepared from fresh, raw ingredients — no exceptions.

The standard this role holds the team to is the standard the kitchen runs on. The team is developed, not just directed. At HTM, the culinary team is producing food for people experiencing homelessness who deserve quality every time. The Sous Chef is accountable for ensuring the team delivers on that every day.

Responsibilities

Menu Planning & Culinary Development

• Collaborate with the Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chef on monthly menu planning, ensuring variety, balance, and adherence to dietary needs

• Assist in menu development for special events, taking into account seasonal availability and participant preferences

• Demonstrate mastery in scratch-cooking techniques, ensuring all dishes are prepared from fresh, raw ingredients without the use of processed or prepared foods

• Creatively utilize donated food to minimize waste and maximize resources in menu planning and production

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Direct and mentor lead cooks, line cooks, bakers, and dishwashers in all aspects of food production including proper techniques, cleanliness, and storage

• Foster a culture of respect, inclusion, and continuous learning within the culinary team

• Maintain open and effective communication with the culinary team, providing clear guidance, feedback, and support as needed

Inventory & Logistics

• Work closely with the Director of Kitchen Logistics to manage stocking, inventory levels, packaging, and delivery needs

• Place orders for all necessary products including food items and cleaning supplies under the guidance of the Senior Director of Food Services

Food Safety & Kitchen Operations

• Ensure all food is prepared and ready for delivery at the designated time, maintaining consistency and quality in every dish

• Establish and enforce rigorous sanitation protocols, conducting daily and weekly deep cleaning schedules

• Inspect and report any maintenance issues with kitchen equipment on a weekly basis

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Must pass pre-employment background check

• Must pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screenings

• Must provide proof of legal authorization to work in the United States

• Must comply with all HTM policies including safety, confidentiality, conduct, and HIPAA standards

• Food Handler Certification required

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on a continuous basis throughout the shift

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

• Ability to push, pull, grasp, and perform repetitive hand and wrist motions regularly

• Ability to work in variable kitchen conditions including heat and varying temperatures

• Schedule includes evenings, weekends, and event-specific hours as operationally required

• Full-Time | Exempt classification

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of cooking experience required; catering environment preferred

• Extensive experience as a Sous Chef in a high-volume, scratch-cooking kitchen environment

• High school diploma or GED preferred

• Experience directly leading and developing a culinary team including lead cooks, line cooks, and bakers

• Experience with menu development, inventory management, and food ordering systems

• Familiarity with donated food programs and resourceful menu planning preferred

• Commitment to serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness

• Bilingual Spanish preferred but not required

Skills

• Mastery of scratch-cooking techniques across a high-volume, multi-station kitchen operation

• In-depth knowledge of culinary techniques, food safety standards, and current food trends

• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop culinary staff with clarity, consistency, and professionalism

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills with attention to detail across simultaneous production priorities

• Knowledge of food safety regulations, sanitation protocols, and kitchen maintenance requirements

• Proficiency in inventory management, product ordering, and coordination with kitchen logistics

• Effective written and verbal communication skills for team instruction and cross-departmental coordination

• Ability to adapt quickly and maintain standards in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment

Mandatory Requirements

• Background Screening – Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of  background checks as required per worksite.

• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Candidates must pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screenings in accordance with company policy.

• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record.

• Legal Eligibility to Work – Candidates must provide proof of legal authorization to work in the US.

• Compliance with Company Policies and HIPAA standards – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality, and conduct standards.

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; stand, bend,  squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis; grasp, push, pull objects such as  files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead; handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; reach with  hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; repeat various motions with  the wrists, hands, and fingers; be able to perform visual activities for (including, but not limited to) administrative  and clerical tasks; ability to lift up to 25 lbs.; communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of  the spoken and written word; drive vehicles in and around Los Angeles County; be able to enter various buildings  that may require climbing stairs; be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals; use a desktop and/or laptop computer; various office machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. 

Work Environment

The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and who may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with the participants’ use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal hygiene. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in an office setting. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure or in crisis intervention.

EEO: HTM (Hope the Mission) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HTM complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

HTM will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if HTM is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s Fair Chance Act webpage.