Senior Sous Chef - Italian Restaurant

We are seeking a dependable, experienced, and hands-on Sous Chef to support daily culinary operations at an established Italian restaurant in Smithfield, VA. This is an opportunity for a seasoned culinary professional who takes pride in authentic Italian cuisine, consistent food quality, and building a strong kitchen team.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in Italian cuisine, preferably within an independent, family-owned, or smaller restaurant environment. Beyond cooking ability, this person must be a reliable leader who can support kitchen management, coach team members, maintain operational standards, and help create a positive, accountable kitchen culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and oversee daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and service execution
• Maintain consistent food quality, presentation, portioning, and recipe standards
• Prepare and execute Italian dishes while maintaining the integrity of the restaurant’s culinary concept
• Work closely with management to develop seasonal menus and creative daily specials
• Create, cost, document, and execute recipes and menu items
• Train, coach, and mentor kitchen staff to improve performance and consistency
• Assist with hiring, interviewing, onboarding, and employee development
• Manage food and labor costs, inventory, purchasing, receiving, and product storage
• Monitor kitchen profitability and support budget and P&L objectives
• Conduct regular inspections of kitchen, dishwashing areas, and equipment
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health-code standards
• Communicate professionally with kitchen and front-of-house teams, especially during busy service
• Resolve operational challenges quickly while maintaining a calm, solutions-oriented approach
• Promote teamwork, accountability, respect, and continuous improvement

Ideal Candidate

• 3 years of Sous Chef, Executive Chef, Head Chef, or comparable kitchen leadership experience
• 6 years of total professional kitchen experience
• Italian cuisine experience strongly preferred
• Background in family-owned, independent, or smaller upscale-casual/full-service restaurants is a plus
• Strong understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, kitchen equipment, and food preparation
• Demonstrated experience managing food costs, labor costs, inventory, and kitchen financial performance
• Proven ability to lead, coach, hire, and train kitchen employees
• Experience creating seasonal specials, costing recipes, and maintaining consistent execution
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a sense of urgency
• Reliable, mature, and accountable, with the ability to lead by example
• Calm and effective under pressure with strong problem-solving skills
• Proficient in basic Microsoft Excel and Word
• Current ServSafe Food Safety Certificate required
• High school diploma or equivalent required

Work Environment & Schedule

• Full-time, hands-on kitchen leadership position
• Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as business requires
• Ability to stand for extended periods, bend, reach, and stoop
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Required food-handler permits and compliance with applicable food-safety procedures

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.