Position Overview

The Prep Sous Chef ensures the smooth operation of our scratch kitchen. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a structured, detail-oriented environment and takes pride in precise execution. Your primary responsibilities will include baking and dough preparation — maintaining our sourdough culture, preparing pizza dough and ciabatta — as well as handling key prep tasks such as sauces, burgers, and other foundational elements of service. While you won’t be on the line regularly, you will be instrumental in keeping our kitchen well-stocked, organized, and running efficiently.

Beyond prep work, this role involves inventory management, order intake, and maintaining pars to ensure seamless daily operations. You’ll work independently for much of your shift, making this a great fit for someone who enjoys a methodical approach to culinary work. If you have a strong foundation in baking, a keen eye for quality, and a passion for well-sourced, nutrient-dense ingredients, we’d love to have you on our team!

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage prep and mise en place (ensure all ingredients are prepared and organized for service)
• Maintain and feed the sourdough starter, ensuring optimal fermentation for pizza dough and ciabatta
• Help minimize waste through proper portioning and storage techniques
• Supervise kitchen staff; assist in training, mentoring, and managing back-of-house employees
• Prepare house recipes, including sauces, condiments, pickles, and ferments, in accordance with our scratch kitchen standards
• Intake and properly store food and supply deliveries, ensuring accuracy and quality control
• Manage inventory, track ingredient levels, and assist in preparing weekly order lists
• Maintain proper pars for all prep items to ensure seamless kitchen operations
• Conduct line checks before service
• Oversee the fermentation process for designated ingredients, ensuring proper timing, temperature, and storage
• Write prep lists as needed for PM staff, ensuring clear communication and smooth transitions between shifts
• Maintain a clean, organized kitchen at all times and adhere to all food safety and sanitation standards; as needed, wash utensils, food storage containers, and other food service items as they are used
• As a portion of the orientation and training period for new line cooks, the prep sous chef assists in the cross-training of line cooks on dough-making and sourdough culture maintenance practices so they may act as a backup resource and maintain consistency, depending on business needs

Requirements
Qualified candidates must possess the following characteristics and experience:

• Must be the minimum age required in the City of Chicago to legally work up to at least 30 hours per week
• Possess Food Protection Manager Certificate
• Basic knowledge of dough fermentation, proofing, gluten structure, and baker's percentages
• Proficiency in baking techniques and culinary skills
• Strong background in baking with at least 1 year of experience working directly with sourdough culture
• Must have regular access to email and utilize the internet (or phone app) for scheduling, payroll, and internal communication
• Excellent communication skills; very organized and detail-oriented
• Demonstrate basic math competency and a general understanding of units of measurement conversions (grams to kilograms, etc.)
• Thrive on a very specific schedule and execute each task timely and efficiently
• Willingness to learn as new menu items are introduced and express creativity (if desired) when new recipes are being developed
• At minimum, you must be able to lift the largest storage container at maximum capacity and lift the largest mixing bowl and pot above waist-level in order to properly use and clean them

Preferred Skills

• Passion for wholesome foods made with nutrient-dense ingredients
• Prior work experience in a pizza-focused restaurant and/or scratch kitchen
• Culinary education and/or training achievements
• Extensive background in maintaining sourdough culture

Compensation

This role pays $22-$26 per hour, based on experience and demonstrated skill level.

Work Environment/Physical Demands Summary

This job operates in a fast-paced restaurant environment and may require the employee to stand for long periods of time. There is regular exposure to food allergens, high-temperature cooking equipment, chemical cleaning products, and pest/insect control substances. The employee must also safely and properly use and store provided cleaning supplies each shift. The employee must also be comfortable operating a high-temperature commercial dishwashing machine. It is the employee's responsibility to maintain proper personal hygiene at all times, wear food protection gloves and hairnets, and consistently and efficiently wash hands to prevent contamination of foods and food contact surfaces.

The role requires the employee to regularly use various kitchen tools and equipment, including those that are sharp and/or heavy. The employee must be able to operate, maintain, and appropriately clean a range, oven, griddle, food processor, double-deck stone pizza oven(s), fryer(s), heavy-duty meat grinder, floor stand mixer, dishwasher, and other commercial kitchen machinery, including any accompanying parts. Additionally, the employee must be able to safely and properly sharpen and sanitize kitchen knives and other sharp and/or heavy food preparation instruments when necessary.

The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of a restaurant with an open seating floor plan. The employee may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday as business needs arise. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and the employee will need to be capable of lifting at least 50 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or Vietnam-era or other protected veteran. Pro Shop Pizza Co. bases all employment decisions (including the selection of employees and the job advancement of employees) on an individual’s qualifications, abilities, and experience for the position, as well as satisfactory references. This policy of equal employment opportunity applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, and all other terms and conditions of employment.