Putnam Valley Grille

Sous Chef – Food & Beverage Operations We are seeking a skilled and motivated Sous Chef to support the daily culinary operations of a high-volume hospitality and event-driven kitchen. This role is responsible for assisting in leadership of the kitchen team, maintaining food quality and consistency, supporting banquet and restaurant service, and helping drive a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is organized, hands-on, calm under pressure, and passionate about hospitality, execution, and team development. Key Responsibilities • Assist Executive Chef with daily kitchen operations across restaurant, banquet, brunch, catering, and special event service, • Lead line cooks and prep staff during service while maintaining standards for quality, timing, cleanliness, and consistency, • Help oversee food preparation, station setup, production schedules, and execution during high-volume periods, • Ensure all dishes are prepared and plated according to recipe and presentation standards, • Support ordering, inventory, food cost control, and proper product rotation/storage, • Assist in menu development, specials, and seasonal programming, • Maintain sanitation, safety, and health department standards at all times, • Train, coach, and develop kitchen staff through hands-on leadership and daily accountability, • Work closely with FOH management to ensure strong communication and guest satisfaction, • Participate in operational debriefs and system improvement initiatives focused on execution and efficiency, • Step into leadership role in absence of Executive Chef Qualifications • Minimum 3 years of kitchen leadership experience in a restaurant, hotel, or catering environment, • Strong knowledge of line cooking, prep systems, banquet execution, and kitchen organization, • Ability to lead teams in a fast-paced environment while maintaining professionalism, • Understanding of food cost management, inventory systems, and labor awareness, • Strong communication and organizational skills, • Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, holidays, and events, • Culinary degree preferred but not required with equivalent experience Preferred Traits • Hospitality-first mindset, • Strong attention to detail, • Calm and solution-oriented under pressure, • Passion for scratch cooking and operational excellence, • Ability to adapt to changing service demands and event execution Physical Requirements • Ability to stand for extended periods, • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, • Ability to work in hot, fast-paced kitchen environments Compensation Competitive salary based on experience, with opportunities for growth within food & beverage operations.