Executive Sous Chef | Upscale Dining | Chef Leadership | $75K-$85K

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Lake Forest, IL

Are you ready to take the next step in your culinary leadership career with an acclaimed upscale restaurant group known for excellence, consistency, and exceptional guest experiences?

We are seeking an Executive Sous Chef who thrives in a fast-paced, chef-driven environment and is passionate about leading high-performing kitchen teams while delivering outstanding cuisine every day.

This is an opportunity to join a respected hospitality organization where culinary craftsmanship, leadership, and professional growth are highly valued.

What You'll Do

• Partner with the Executive Chef to oversee all back-of-house operations and daily execution
• Lead, inspire, and develop a talented culinary team through hands-on coaching and mentorship
• Ensure exceptional food quality, consistency, presentation, and execution on every shift
• Drive performance during high-volume service while maintaining composure and attention to detail
• Manage labor, scheduling, food cost, inventory, purchasing, and receiving
• Maintain the highest standards of sanitation, food safety, and operational excellence
• Recruit, train, and retain top culinary talent
• Assist with menu execution, recipe compliance, and continuous operational improvements
• Foster a positive, accountable, and high-performance kitchen culture

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of Executive Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef experience in upscale casual, polished casual, fine dining, or chef-driven restaurants
• Proven success leading high-volume scratch kitchens
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop culinary teams
• Experience managing food cost, labor cost, inventory, and kitchen financial performance
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities
• A hands-on leader who leads by example with professionalism, urgency, and accountability
• Passion for culinary excellence and delivering memorable guest experiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Scratch kitchen experience
• Experience in upscale or fine dining concepts
• Stable career progression with demonstrated leadership growth
• Strong operational systems and execution skills
• Culinary degree is a plus but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• $75,000–$85,000 annual salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid Time Off
• Opportunities for career growth with a successful and expanding hospitality organization
• Collaborative leadership team and culture focused on excellence
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a respected culinary operation

If you're a passionate culinary leader who enjoys developing teams, executing at a high level, and creating exceptional dining experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to learn more about this confidential Executive Sous Chef opportunity.

The 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 Description

The 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.