Sous Chef – Catering Production Kitchen
Crave Catering Co.
Crave Catering Co., located in Edgewater, MD, is seeking a highly organized and motivated Sous Chef to help lead culinary operations in our production catering kitchen.
This is a hands-on working chef role responsible for daily food production, kitchen organization, and supporting the execution of multiple catered events each week. Our kitchen operates with strong systems and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality food for corporate clients, weddings, and social events.
This role is ideal for a chef who enjoys both cooking and operational leadership and takes pride in maintaining an organized, efficient kitchen.
The chefs who thrive at Crave are the ones who take as much pride in organization, process, and execution as they do in the food itself.
About Crave Catering Co.
Crave is a full-service catering company known for from-scratch cuisine, thoughtful presentation, and exceptional service. Our team produces events ranging from corporate drop-offs to large-scale weddings and private events.
Our kitchen operates primarily during daytime hours, with production focused on executing high-quality food for off-site events.
This Role Is Perfect For Someone Who:
Thrives in a structured, organized kitchen environment
Enjoys production planning and executing multiple events
Takes pride in consistent food quality and presentation
Communicates well with both kitchen staff and leadership
Wants to grow into culinary leadership or management
Prefers daytime production work over late-night restaurant service
This Role May Not Be Ideal If:
You strongly prefer a traditional restaurant line environment
You dislike systems, labeling, prep lists, and production organization
You prefer a creative freestyle cooking environment without structure
A Typical Day Might Include
Reviewing event production sheets and prep lists
Organizing incoming deliveries and ingredients by event
Leading prep cooks through daily production
Cooking and packing food for corporate drop-off catering
Preparing and organizing food for full-service events
Managing inventory and placing vendor orders
Ensuring food is properly labeled, organized, and packed for transport
Maintaining sanitation logs and kitchen organization
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Production
Lead daily food production for catered events and corporate dining
Prepare, cook, chill, and pack food for off-site events
Ensure all food leaving the kitchen meets Crave quality and presentation standards
Assist in recipe standardization and menu execution
Kitchen Organization & Operations
Organize products by event from delivery to departure
Manage kitchen production documents including BEOs, prep sheets, and recipes
Maintain organized inventory and efficient kitchen workflow
Ensure accurate food pack lists for events
Purchasing & Inventory
Order food and supplies from vendors (broadline, produce, paper goods, chemicals)
Maintain proper product specifications and inventory levels
Communicate with vendors when necessary
Team Leadership
Supervise prep prep/event cooks and dishwasher
Assign prep duties based on team strengths and event needs
Help train and develop kitchen staff
Maintain a positive and professional kitchen environment
Cost & Performance Management
Assist in maintaining food cost and labor targets
Follow company production metrics and operational benchmarks
Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve efficiency
Food Safety & Cleanliness
Maintain the highest standards of sanitation and food safety
Manage sanitation logs and health inspection readiness
Enforce daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules
Communication
Communicate production timelines and operational needs with the Executive Chef
Participate in weekly operational meetings to review upcoming events
Required Qualifications
Proven experience as a cook, lead cook, or sous chef proven by strong professional references
Strong organizational and time management skills
Ability to manage multiple production timelines
Knowledge of kitchen sanitation and food safety practices
ServSafe Certification (required or ability to obtain)
Ability to lift 50 lbs regularly
Strong communication and leadership abilities
Preferred Qualifications
Catering or high-volume production kitchen experience
Culinary degree or formal culinary training
Experience with Google Workspace or catering software
Familiarity with inventory and ordering systems
Pay: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Food provided
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Cooking: 5 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Edgewater, MD 21037 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
