Executive Sous Chef | French & Southeast Asian Cuisine | $75K-$85K

Location: Lake Forest, IL

Are you ready to elevate your culinary leadership career with an acclaimed upscale restaurant group recognized for exceptional cuisine, hospitality, and memorable guest experiences?

We are seeking an Executive Sous Chef who thrives in a refined, high-volume, chef-driven environment and has a passion for culinary excellence, team development, and operational leadership.

This is an opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader to partner closely with the Executive Chef, help drive kitchen performance, develop talent, and execute a sophisticated menu inspired by French culinary techniques and Southeast Asian flavors.

What You'll Do

• Partner with the Executive Chef to lead daily back-of-house operations and culinary execution
• Inspire, coach, and develop a talented culinary team through hands-on leadership and mentorship
• Ensure exceptional food quality, consistency, presentation, and execution during every service
• Lead high-volume dinner operations while maintaining precision, urgency, and attention to detail
• Support menu execution, recipe standards, seasonal features, and culinary innovation
• Manage food cost, labor cost, inventory, ordering, receiving, and kitchen efficiency
• Create a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Recruit, train, and retain top culinary talent
• Maintain the highest standards of sanitation, food safety, organization, and operational excellence

What We're Looking For

• 3 years of experience as an Executive Sous Chef, Senior Sous Chef, or Chef de Cuisine in upscale casual, polished casual, fine dining, or luxury hospitality environments
• Proven success leading high-volume scratch kitchens with strong culinary standards
• Strong understanding of French cuisine, Southeast Asian cuisine, or globally inspired fine dining concepts
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to mentor, motivate, and develop culinary teams
• Experience managing food cost, labor cost, inventory, purchasing, and operational performance
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• A hands-on leader who leads by example with professionalism, urgency, and accountability

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in French, Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, or Asian-inspired cuisine
• Background in upscale restaurants, luxury hotels, or chef-driven concepts
• Experience supporting menu development and culinary innovation
• Stable career progression with demonstrated leadership growth
• Culinary degree or formal culinary training preferred but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• $75,000–$85,000 annual salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid Time Off
• Dining benefits and employee perks
• Career growth opportunities within a respected hospitality organization
• Collaborative leadership team focused on culinary excellence

If you are a passionate culinary leader who enjoys developing teams, executing exceptional cuisine, and creating memorable dining experiences, we would love to connect.

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.