Chef de Cuisine; Executive Sous Chef

Sweetwaters a modern, seafood-forward, waterfront restaurant is opening in Fort Lauderdale, built around polished service, exceptional ingredients, and a high-level of hospitality.

We are assembling the founding leadership team that will set the culture, the standards, and the guest experience from day one.

This is an opportunity to help create a restaurant that feels refined without being formal, elevated without being pretentious, and deeply hospitality-driven at every level.

We are seeking a Chef de Cuisine (Executive Sous Chef) who is ready to lead at scale — someone who can orchestrate excellence while continuing to elevate and evolve a menu that is bold, seasonally driven, and unforgettable.

The Opportunity

This is not a back-of-house management role - this is a culinary leadership position.

As Chef de Cuisine, you will:

• Lead a high-performing culinary brigade, high-volume, upscale environment
• Drive consistency and excellence across premium offerings, and seasonally inspired dishes
• Inspire innovation while protecting the integrity of the concept
• Set the tone for kitchen culture — disciplined, collaborative, accountable, and proud
• Partner closely with the Executive Chef and senior leadership to execute strategic culinary initiatives

You will be hands-on, present on the line, and relentlessly focused on execution. Every dish that leaves the pass represents our brand and your leadership.

What You’ll Own

• Daily kitchen operations and service execution at the highest level
• Culinary training, mentorship, and development of sous chefs and line cooks
• Labor management and food cost performance in a high-volume setting
• Menu implementation and seasonal rollouts
• Inventory, purchasing, and vendor partnerships
• Health, safety, and sanitation excellence
• Seamless collaboration with front-of-house leadership to deliver a refined, guest experience

Who You Are

• 3+ years as a Chef de Cuisine or Executive Sous Chef in an $8MM+ upscale restaurant
• A proven leader of large teams in high-expectation environments
• Financially savvy — you understand margins, labor models, and cost controls
• Passionate about premium ingredients, technique, and presentation
• Calm under pressure and energized by volume
• A culture-builder who develops people and holds high standards

Culinary degree preferred, though demonstrated excellence and progressive growth matter most.

Why Sweetwaters

• Competitive compensation package
• Comprehensive benefits package
• The opportunity to lead and set the standard for a new restaurant
• Visibility within Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a respected, privately held restaurant group with iconic properties
• Real opportunity for career progression within a growing organization

If you are ready to lead a kitchen where performance meets precision, where volume meets refinement, and where every guest matters, we would love to meet you.