Sous Chef

The University of Northern Iowa Dining team is known for serving the best college food in Iowa, creating a welcoming and well-maintained environment that enhances student life. From preparing meals to supporting daily operations, this dedicated group plays a vital role in campus culture—fostering connection, comfort, and community through every plate served.

Oversees culinary operations, ensuring high-quality food production, and maintaining compliance with established standards; develops and tests recipes; assists with menu planning; manages kitchen production; requisitions food and supplies; maintains inventory and controls meal costs; provides leadership to production and student staff through training and coaching; and ensures proper sanitation practices, labeling, and record-keeping, while also maintaining kitchen equipment and recommending capital purchases to support operational needs.

Bachelor’s degree plus at least one year of experience as a Sous Chef or related experience in food service operations required. An associate’s degree plus at least four years of experience as a Sous Chef or related experience in food service operations may be substituted.

Supervisory experience of culinary staff; experience working in a university or large volume hotel or convention center; experience with recipe creation and specification writing; large volume (300+) catering experience; experience making presentations and teaching cooking classes to students and campus community; fine dining experience; recipe testing experience; and experience using local, organic and sustainable products preferred.

UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University encourages applications from persons of color, women, individuals living with disabilities, and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other basis protected by federal and/or state law.