About this opportunity
The Restaurant Zone lists this Restaurant Sous Chef - Italian Cuisine & Inventory Management opportunity in newport news, Virginia. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Job DescriptionJob DescriptionWe 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
Company DescriptionThe 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 DescriptionThe 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.
Worksite address
newport news, VA, 23606, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.