Junior Sous Chef

Wildflower is a neighborhood restaurant with a lot happening behind the scenes. From busy lunch, brunch & dinner service to private events, we work together to create great guest experiences through great food and a team that takes pride in what they do.

The Junior Sous Chef helps keep daily kitchen operations running smoothly while maintaining high standards for food quality, consistency, organization, and sanitation.

You'll play an important role in preparing for and executing daily service, supporting private events, and making sure the kitchen is set up for success. We're looking for someone who is equally comfortable jumping in on the line, organizing prep, coaching team members, and keeping things moving when the volume picks up.

What You'll Do

• Support daily kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, consistency, and execution meet Wildflower's standards
• Organize daily prep, schedules and pars, and prioritize tasks to keep the kitchen running efficiently.
• Expedite high-volume dinner and brunch services - smooth ticket flow & pacing, food quality, and clear communication between the kitchen and front-of-house teams.
• Lead by example by providing hands-on support, direction, and training to kitchen team members.
• Oversee mise en place, station setup, and service execution, ensuring menu items are prepared according to recipes, presentation standards, and timing expectations.
• Support the preparation and execution of private events, coordinating with front-of-house teams to ensure smooth service and consistent food quality.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the menu, ingredients, preparation methods, and plating standards, while communicating guest allergies, dietary restrictions, and special requests.
• Ensure proper receiving, storage, labeling, rotation, and handling of products, as well as the cleanliness and organization of kitchen workstations and equipment.
• Uphold all health department, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards; participate in inspections and follow through on corrective actions.
• Identify equipment, maintenance, and safety concerns, address issues when possible, and communicate or report them to leadership
• Foster a positive, collaborative kitchen environment while helping ensure the team is prepared for each service and the next shift.

What We're Looking For

• At least 1 year of experience in a kitchen supervisory role in a high-volume restaurant.
  
• Expediting experience required
• NYC Food Handler's Card preferred 
• English & Spanish fluency preferred
• Strong fundamentals, including knife skills, cooking techniques, ingredient knowledge, and recipe execution.
• Experience working a busy service and the ability to stay organized and composed under pressure.
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to coach, motivate, and support a diverse kitchen team.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with attention to detail.
• A genuine commitment to food quality, consistency, cleanliness, and hospitality.
• The ability to work a flexible full-time schedule, including evenings, brunches, weekends, and holidays.
• Culinary arts or hospitality education is a plus, but practical experience and a strong work ethic matter most.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

This is an active, hands-on kitchen role. The position requires the ability to:

• Stand and move throughout the kitchen for extended periods, potentially up to 12 hours per shift
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently bend, reach, stoop, kneel, push, pull, and use stairs.
• Work around hot equipment, sharp tools, heavy machinery, and fluctuating temperatures.
• Work in an environment where exposure to common food allergens and frequent handwashing is part of the job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.