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Specialty Cuisine Sous Chef | $69,000/Year | Philadelphia, PA

Location: Philadelphia, PA (Airport Area)
$69,000 Annual Salary
Full-Time | Immediate Opening

We are seeking an experienced Specialty Cuisine Sous Chef to join a large-scale airline catering operation serving international airline partners. This role is responsible for preparing authentic regional cuisine from scratch while ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, presentation, and adherence to airline specifications.

This is a hands-on culinary leadership position ideal for chefs with experience in high-volume production kitchens, catering operations, hotels, restaurants, or specialty cuisine environments. The successful candidate will bring deep knowledge of authentic culinary techniques and ingredients while maintaining the pace and precision required in airline catering operations.

Schedule

• Full-time position
• Typical Shift: 10:00/11:00 AM to around 8:00/9:00 PM
• Schedule may vary based on production requirements and flight schedules.
• Weekend, holiday, and overtime availability may be required.

What You'll Do

• Prepare complete authentic meals from scratch, including entrees, sauces, side dishes, and specialty menu items
• Execute authentic regional recipes while maintaining consistency, flavor profiles, and presentation standards
• Prepare food according to detailed airline specifications and customer requirements
• Ensure all meals are flight-ready and meet strict quality standards
• Maintain production schedules and meet Kitchen Ready Time deadlines
• Coordinate with kitchen teams to ensure timely completion of meal components
• Monitor product quality, food safety, and presentation throughout production
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of workstations and production areas
• Support inventory management and waste reduction efforts
• Adhere to all HACCP, FDA, USDA, and company food safety standards
• Interact professionally with internal stakeholders and airline customers as needed

Physical & Work Environment

• Fast-paced, high-volume production kitchen environment
• Standing and walking for extended periods throughout shifts
• Working around hot equipment and cooking surfaces
• Ability to work in refrigerated production areas when required
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality standards

Requirements

Please apply only if you have substantial professional culinary experience.

• Minimum 5 years of professional cooking experience required
• Experience preparing authentic regional or specialty cuisine required
• Experience in high-volume restaurant, catering, hotel, healthcare, airline catering, commissary, or institutional food service environments preferred
• Strong knowledge of traditional cooking techniques, ingredients, and flavor profiles associated with specialty cuisines
• Ability to prepare complete meals from scratch with minimal supervision
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP requirements
• Ability to follow detailed recipes, plating guides, and production specifications
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with diverse teams
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining quality and consistency

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Sous Chef, Lead Cook, Kitchen Supervisor, or Culinary Leadership experience
• Airline catering experience
• Culinary school, technical culinary training, apprenticeship, or formal culinary education
• ServSafe Certification or other advanced food safety certifications
• Experience working with international menus and diverse culinary traditions
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills are a plus

Ideal Backgrounds

Candidates with experience in the following environments are encouraged to apply:

• Airline Catering Operations
• Hotels and Resorts
• Fine Dining Restaurants
• High-Volume Restaurant Groups
• Corporate Dining Programs
• Catering Companies
• Healthcare Food Service Operations
• Large Commissary Kitchens

Important Applicant Note

This is a senior culinary position intended for experienced chefs who have demonstrated growth and progression in their careers.

Applicants whose experience is limited to long-term prep cook or line cook positions without increased responsibilities, leadership experience, specialty cuisine expertise, or professional development may not be a fit for this opportunity.

Stable work history, strong culinary fundamentals, and experience managing multiple priorities in fast-paced kitchen environments are highly valued.

Benefits & Perks

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional Voluntary Benefits
• Free Employee Meals
• Free Parking
• Free Uniforms
• Career Growth Opportunities

Apply today to join a world-class airline catering operation and bring authentic regional cuisine to travelers from around the globe.