Sous Chef | High-Volume BBQ Restaurant

Sous Chef | High-Volume BBQ Restaurant

Location: Charlotte, NC
Salary: $60,000–$65,000 Annually
Job Type: Full-Time

Sous Chef | Chef-Driven BBQ Concept

We are seeking a talented, hands-on Sous Chef to join the culinary leadership team of a well-established, high-volume BBQ restaurant in Charlotte, NC.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate culinary professional who appreciates authentic Southern barbecue, wood-smoked meats, scratch-made sides, and exceptional food quality.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in high-volume restaurant kitchens, excellent leadership skills, and a genuine passion for Southern cuisine and traditional barbecue techniques.

We are looking for a chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment, leads by example, and takes pride in delivering consistent, high-quality food while developing a strong culinary team.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Chef in overseeing daily kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and execution.
• Supervise and develop the culinary team, fostering a positive, accountable, and collaborative kitchen environment.
• Maintain high standards for smoked meats, traditional BBQ preparation, scratch-made sides, and Southern-inspired dishes.
• Oversee food preparation, production schedules, portion control, and presentation standards.
• Assist with managing food costs, labor expenses, inventory, purchasing, and waste reduction.
• Ensure efficient kitchen operations during high-volume service periods.
• Train and mentor cooks on proper cooking techniques, food safety, and operational standards.
• Assist with kitchen scheduling, staffing, and performance management.
• Maintain strict compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Collaborate with culinary leadership on menu development, specials, and operational improvements.
• Lead by example, remaining actively involved in food preparation and service.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience as a Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, or strong culinary supervisor in a high-volume restaurant.
• Experience in BBQ, smokehouse, Southern cuisine, or scratch-driven restaurant concepts strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of smoking techniques, meat preparation, butchery, and large-scale food production is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate culinary teams.
• Strong understanding of food cost management, inventory, portion control, and labor efficiency.
• Ability to maintain consistency and quality in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on leadership style with a strong work ethic and attention to detail.
• Passion for authentic barbecue, Southern hospitality, and culinary excellence.
• Culinary degree preferred but not required.

Compensation & Opportunity

• Base Salary: $60,000–$65,000, depending on experience.
• Opportunity to join a respected, high-volume BBQ restaurant concept.
• Supportive culinary leadership and team-oriented environment.
• Opportunity for professional development and career advancement.
• Creative involvement in menu specials and culinary execution.

Apply Today!

If you're a motivated Sous Chef who loves authentic barbecue, thrives in a busy kitchen, and enjoys leading a talented culinary team, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today for a confidential conversation about this Sous Chef opportunity in Charlotte, NC!

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.