Executive Sous Chef | Upscale Casual | $70-75k | Wilmington, DE
9 days ago
Wilmington
Job Description Executive Sous Chef | Upscale Casual Restaurant Group | Wilmington, DE $70,000–$75k + Benefits + Advancement Potential About Us We’re a chef-driven, upscale casual restaurant group known for seasonal menus, scratch kitchens, and hospitality that actually means something. Our teams are tight, creative, and serious about doing things the right way — from butchering and fermentation to guest experience. If you’re passionate about food, systems, and leadership, you’ll fit right in. The Role We’re hiring an Executive Sous Chef for our Wilmington, DE location. You’ll be the #2 in the kitchen, driving service, developing the team, and helping lead menu execution, R&D, and operations alongside the Executive Chef. This is a high-ownership role with direct impact on the food, the culture, and the numbers — and you’ll run the kitchen when the Chef is off. What You’ll Do • Lead daily kitchen operations, line execution, and service for lunch + dinner, including acting as Chef de Cuisine as needed, • Train, coach, and inspire a team of 15-20 cooks in a scratch, high-volume environment, • Own inventory, ordering, and cost controls with the Chef — drive food cost, waste, and profitability, • Lead menu development, specials, and seasonal R&D with creative input, • Uphold exceptional standards for cleanliness, safety, and consistency across all shifts, • Manage scheduling, labor, and kitchen systems — we’re all hands on deck during service What You Bring • 3+ years as a Sous Chef or 2+ years as an Executive Sous Chef in full-service, from-scratch kitchens, • Advanced knife skills, strong leadership presence, and ability to command a busy line, • Deep knowledge of inventory, ordering, P&L, and kitchen management systems, • ServSafe certification required; passion for developing talent required, • Nights, weekends, and holidays — it’s restaurants, but we protect work-life balance where we can What We Offer • Salary: $70-75k based on experience, • Benefits: Health, dental, vision, PTO, and meal perks, • Growth: Clear path to Executive Chef — we promote from within and invest in your development, • Culture: Supportive leadership, creative freedom on menus, and a team that has your back Ready to lead with us? Send your resume and a brief note about why you’re a fit to nate@geckohospitality.com with the subject line “Executive Sous Chef – Wilmington”. Company DescriptionSince 2000, Gecko Hospitality has established itself as a premier recruiting partner for the hospitality and restaurant management industry, consistently connecting top-tier talent with exceptional career opportunities and supporting employers in building high‐performing leadership teams. With deep industry expertise and a nationwide recruiting network, Gecko delivers tailored, people‐focused hiring solutions that drive meaningful organizational impact. Our professional recruiters bring a distinct advantage: they are former senior hospitality leaders who have managed operations, led teams, and delivered excellence across restaurants, hotels, private clubs, and other hospitality environments. This firsthand experience enables us to identify and engage candidates who are not only highly qualified but well‐equipped to excel in demanding leadership roles — from general managers and executive chefs to COOs and HR directors. With more than 25 years of recruiting experience and over 45,000 successful placements across all 50 states and Canada, Gecko Hospitality has earned a reputation for integrity, credibility, and consistent results. Our core values — community, integrity, excellence, credibility, and passion — guide every interaction with both clients and candidates. At Gecko Hospitality, we do more than fill positions. We create long‐term success for professionals and organizations by delivering strategic recruitment solutions that strengthen teams and elevate the hospitality industry as a whole.Since 2000, Gecko Hospitality has established itself as a premier recruiting partner for the hospitality and restaurant management industry, consistently connecting top-tier talent with exceptional career opportunities and supporting employers in building high‐performing leadership teams. With deep industry expertise and a nationwide recruiting network, Gecko delivers tailored, people‐focused hiring solutions that drive meaningful organizational impact.\r\n \r\nOur professional recruiters bring a distinct advantage: they are former senior hospitality leaders who have managed operations, led teams, and delivered excellence across restaurants, hotels, private clubs, and other hospitality environments. This firsthand experience enables us to identify and engage candidates who are not only highly qualified but well‐equipped to excel in demanding leadership roles — from general managers and executive chefs to COOs and HR directors.\r\n \r\nWith more than 25 years of recruiting experience and over 45,000 successful placements across all 50 states and Canada, Gecko Hospitality has earned a reputation for integrity, credibility, and consistent results. Our core values — community, integrity, excellence, credibility, and passion — guide every interaction with both clients and candidates.\r\n \r\nAt Gecko Hospitality, we do more than fill positions. We create long‐term success for professionals and organizations by delivering strategic recruitment solutions that strengthen teams and elevate the hospitality industry as a whole.