Junior Sous Chef

ABOUT CUERNO NEW YORK

CUERNO is redefining the Mexican culinary experience in New York. As the first Mexican steakhouse in the city, we’re proud to honor our culinary heritage while pushing the boundaries of innovation. We're building something extraordinary—a movement to elevate Mexican cuisine and hospitality to its rightful place on the global stage. If you're passionate, driven, and ready to make history, we want you on our team.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Junior Sous Chef supports the Sous Chef and culinary leadership team in maintaining an organized, clean, safe, and service-ready kitchen. This hands-on leadership position is primarily responsible for daily kitchen organization, walk-in and freezer standards, dry-storage structure, product rotation, labeling, sanitation, and station readiness. 

The ideal candidate is a disciplined culinary professional who leads by example, follows established systems, communicates clearly, and keeps all storage and production areas consistently organized. The Junior Sous Chef also assists with service execution, team guidance, inventory control, and operational follow-through as assigned by culinary leadership. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Walk-In, Freezer & Dry Storage Organization 

• Maintain clear, consistent organization systems in all walk-ins, freezers, dry-storage areas, and kitchen storage spaces. 
• Ensure every product is properly received, labeled, dated, covered, stored, and placed in its assigned location. 
• Keep shelves, racks, containers, and storage zones clean, orderly, accessible, and free of unnecessary items. 
• Enforce FIFO (First In, First Out) rotation and place older product in front for immediate use. 
• Inspect storage areas daily for freshness, quality, expiration dates, correct temperatures, leaks, spills, and damaged product. 
• Maintain approved shelf maps, designated product zones, pars, and storage labels so the team can locate and return items correctly. 
• Identify overstock, shortages, low-moving products, and waste concerns and report them promptly to culinary leadership. 
• Complete opening, mid-shift, and closing organization checks and correct issues before leaving the area. 

Kitchen Cleanliness & Sanitation 

• Maintain exceptional cleanliness in walk-ins, freezers, dry storage, prep areas, line stations, and shared kitchen spaces. 
• Follow and reinforce health department requirements, HACCP standards, and company food-safety procedures. 
• Conduct documented daily inspections of floors, shelves, walls, doors, gaskets, drains, equipment, and food-contact surfaces. 
• Assign and verify opening, shift-change, closing, and deep-cleaning tasks. 
• Hold team members accountable for cleaning as they work and returning products and tools to designated locations. 
• Coordinate with stewarding to address cleaning needs, trash removal, pest-prevention concerns, and maintenance issues. 
• Verify proper handwashing, food handling, allergen controls, labeling, cooling, and temperature records.

• Lead by example and coach cooks on organization, cleanliness, product care, and proper station setup. 
• Assist the Sous Chef with task assignments, breaks, station coverage, and daily priorities. 
• Maintain a professional, respectful, accountable, and safety-focused work environment. 
• Give clear direction during preparation and service and confirm assigned work is completed correctly. 
• Observe team attendance, performance, and policy compliance and report concerns to the Sous Chef or senior culinary leadership. 
• Train team members on storage maps, pars, labeling, rotation, cleaning schedules, and closing standards. 
• Promote teamwork and immediately address disorganization, unsafe practices, and incomplete cleaning. 

• Support the Sous Chef and senior culinary leaders with daily preparation, service, and closing operations. 
• Confirm stations are stocked to par, organized, sanitized, and ready before service. 
• Participate in line checks and verify product quality, freshness, consistency, temperature, and presentation. 
• Assist with product counts, prep pars, requisitions, and communication of daily product needs. 
• Respond quickly to spills, storage breakdowns, missing labels, temperature concerns, and other operational issues. 
• Maintain clear communication with cooks, stewarding, purchasing, receiving, and culinary leadership. 
• Complete assigned opening and closing duties and provide a clear shift handoff regarding shortages, waste, cleaning, and storage concerns. 

• Support food-cost goals by maintaining accurate pars, protecting product quality, preventing overproduction, and reducing avoidable waste. 

• Walk-ins, freezers, dry storage, and kitchen work areas remain clean, labeled, structured, and inspection-ready. 
• Products are consistently rotated, stored correctly, and maintained within approved pars and temperature standards. 
• Cleaning assignments, storage checks, and closing duties are completed and verified each shift. 
• Stations are service-ready, properly stocked, and supported throughout the shift. 
• Health, sanitation, HACCP, labeling, and food-safety requirements are consistently followed. 
• Shortages, waste, maintenance concerns, and team issues are communicated promptly and accurately. 

• 2+ years of experience in a fast-paced kitchen environment. 
• Fine dining and/or Mexican cuisine experience is a plus. 
• Passion for high-quality food and attention to detail. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. 
• Strong communication skills and the ability to manage time effectively. 
• Knowledge of kitchen safety and health regulations. Food Protection Certification preferred.
• Flexibility in work hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. 

Compensation, Benefits & Perks 

• Salary Range: $66,300 - $70,000 annually
• Performance-based bonus
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discounts  

Additional Information  
This job description is intended to outline the general nature and responsibilities of the role. Duties and responsibilities may evolve based on business needs, and management reserves the right to modify job duties as necessary.  

Cuerno New York is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.