Kitchen Lead - Sous Chef

Job Title: Kitchen Lead

Location: Rock Nashville – Nashville, TN

Reports to: Executive Sous Chef

Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $55,000 – $65,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, meal stipend

Position Summary

Studio 1 Catering is seeking a hands-on, dependable Kitchen Lead to help guide our culinary operations. This position works directly with the Executive Sous Chef to manage daily kitchen execution, ensuring excellence in food quality, presentation, and team performance.

The Kitchen Lead oversees line cooks and utility/dish teams, supporting scheduling, training, and maintaining standards that reflect Studio 1’s core values: hospitality, teamwork, flexibility, excellence, and growth. This role is ideal for a working lead—someone comfortable on the line, invested in mentoring others, and passionate about building a high-functioning, culture-driven kitchen.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise line cooks, prep cooks, and utility staff during prep and service.
• Model professionalism, consistency, and Studio 1 values in every interaction.
• Support scheduling, task delegation, and shift coverage to maintain staffing balance.
• Train team members on recipes, plating standards, and sanitation protocols.
• Foster a positive, inclusive kitchen culture that emphasizes growth and accountability.

Kitchen Operations & Quality Control

• Ensure food quality, presentation, and timing meet company standards.
• Oversee kitchen readiness, organization, and cleanliness before and after each shift.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, communicate shortages, and support ordering needs.
• Enforce food safety and sanitation practices at all times.
• Assist in daily prep, cooking, and plating as part of the active line team.

Coordination & Communication

• Collaborate with the Executive Sous Chef, Advancer, and Manager on Duty to meet service timelines.
• Communicate clearly between front and back of house teams.
• Anticipate event needs and adapt to last-minute changes with composure and creativity.

Qualifications

• 3 years of professional kitchen experience; 1 year in a supervisory or lead role preferred.
• Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in high-volume production and time management.
• ServSafe certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Physical ability to lift 50 lbs and stand for extended periods.
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Culture & Expectations

At Studio 1, culture comes before titles, tasks, or résumés. We are a people-first, family-style catering company serving Nashville’s music and event community. Skills can be sharpened, but heart, attitude, and hospitality cannot—that’s why we hire for culture first.

We go the extra mile to create a welcoming environment for our clients and our team. That means jumping through hoops to get it right, staying flexible in the face of change, and treating everyone—from artists to teammates—with respect and warmth.

Every Studio 1 team member is expected to embody our values:

·      Hospitality-minded – even in the kitchen, you’re serving people first.

·      Team-driven – success comes from pitching in and working together.

·      Flexible under pressure – events move fast; you adapt with grit and creativity.

·      Committed to excellence – from prep to serving, details matter.

·      Positive energy – enthusiasm and hustle set the tone and make the kitchen hum.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, love working with a close-knit team, and take pride in serving meals that make people feel cared for, Studio 1 is the place for you.