Executive Sous Chef

Job Description

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 3777 Nolensville Road, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America

Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM | Expires Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 4:59 AM

SSA Group at Nashville Zoo is looking for a talented Executive Sous Chef to join our team!

All applications should be submitted within 7-days following posting of the job; applications will be prioritized based upon time submitted and may not be reviewed beyond this time. The employer reserves the right to shorten or expand this timeframe as necessary to the job scope.

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

SSA Group works with zoos, aquariums, museums, and other cultural attractions on integrating dining, retail, admissions and more. We increase revenue opportunities for partners across the United States. With 50 years in the business, SSA has refined the basics while pioneering better ways forward. With pillars of focus like sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, SSA is transforming the cultural attraction industry.

SSA was built by families, for families, with a family’s sense of love and dedication. We don’t just rely on the best practices in our industry, we customize best practices for each partner to set the bar higher and higher, always. We do all we can to further the mission of our partners because their guests and the communities they serve, deserve it.

Reporting Relationship

The Executive Sous Chef reports directly to the Executive Chef.

Responsibilities

People

• Interview, hire, evaluate, reward, and progressively coach kitchen personnel as appropriate.
• Develop culinary training programs for food production employees and serve as a culinary resource to promote quality food services. Ensure SSAfety training(s) completed with all staff upon hire.
• Train kitchen personnel in safe operating procedures of all equipment, utensils, and machinery, as well as food production principles and practices.
• Direct and coordinate the work of production and dish room staff as necessary.
• Maintain communications with Food and Catering Operations teams through weekly meetings and daily conversations to ensure proper menu productions, standards, quality and amount of staff.
• Maintains a close relationship with the client’s staff to insure a positive working relationship.
• Manage employees in accordance with State and Federal labor laws.
• Maintain a clean, safe and organized work environment.
• Uphold and demonstrate a complete understanding of company policies and procedures.

Operational Excellence

• Perform the steps of SSA EXTRA Guest Service to ensure a memorable experience for every guest and client.
• Supervise period end inventory for all food and beverage areas.
• Direct and participate in the daily preparation of standard and gourmet food items. Supervise and participate in the preparation and display of menu items for special functions
• Monitor and track proper cooking and holding temperatures.
• Ensure overall consistency and high quality across the various operations.
• Assist Executive chef in planning menus based on such factors as market trends, customer preferences and nutritional considerations; design recipes, determine appropriate ingredients and specify individual serving portion for each recipe.
• Ability to price out menus to offer strategic price increases.
• Inspect all locations to observe quality of food preparation and service; food appearance; and cleanliness and sanitation of production and service areas, equipment and employee appearance.
• Evaluate the quality of raw food and ensure the quality of the finished products.
• Implement and enforce sanitary practices for food handling, general cleanliness, and maintenance of kitchen and/or dining areas.
• Comply with all food safety regulations and practices. Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations.
• Process invoices to office team ensuring smooth communication so that all vendors are paid within terms.
• Manage all operational functions of the Culinary aspects within the Unit’s operation.

Growth

• Assist Executive Chef in controlling food cost through storeroom requisition systems, product storage requirements, standardization recipes and waste control procedures.
• Help…