Sous Chef
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Restaurant: Bower Surf Club
Bower Santa Monica is a new restaurant opening this September at the Colorado Center, a premier 15-acre office campus in Santa Monica. Bower, spanning 6,500 square feet, brings together California Coastal cuisine with influences from Australian café culture as well as Mediterranean and Southeast Asian flavors. From daytime espresso, grain bowls, and smoothies to evening shareable plates, whole-grilled fish, and cocktails.
Founded by restaurateur Dave Harper (Bondi Harvest, Amigo Roasters, Likeminded Wellness Club, El Chucho) in partnership with BXP and New School Hospitality, Bower is rooted in a love of surfing, coastal living, and genuine community. With warm, earthy interiors, open-air accordion doors, and an outdoor patio, we're creating a laid-back yet vibrant gathering space for the people who work, live, and play on the Westside.
Position Overview
As a Sous Chef at Bower, you are a key leader in the kitchen, responsible for supporting the Executive Chef in all aspects of daily culinary operations. You lead by example, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, organization, and teamwork while fostering a positive and collaborative kitchen culture.
The ideal candidate is a skilled culinary professional with strong leadership abilities, a passion for seasonal ingredients and hospitality, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Qualifications/Requirements
- Ability to work with honesty and integrity
- Ability to maintain a professional and positive attitude that reflects Bower's values
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance
- Minimum 2–4 years of kitchen leadership experience in a Sous Chef or similar supervisory role
- Experience in high-volume, chef-driven restaurants preferred
- Strong knowledge of food costing, inventory management, and kitchen operations
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills
- Ability to remain calm, organized, and solution-oriented during busy service
- Food Handler Certification required (or ability to obtain one); ServSafe Manager Certification preferred
Core Responsibilities
- Assist the Executive Chef in leading daily kitchen operations and service
- Ensure all food is prepared consistently to Bower's quality, recipe, and presentation standards
- Lead, coach, and support line cooks, prep cooks, and dish staff while fostering a positive team environment
- Oversee line setup, prep, production, and quality control throughout service
- Assist with inventory, ordering, receiving, food cost management, and labor planning
- Ensure prep lists, production schedules, and opening/closing duties are completed efficiently
- Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health department standards
- Partner with Front of House leadership to ensure seamless service and guest satisfaction
- Communicate menu changes, allergies, dietary restrictions, and operational priorities to the kitchen team
- Support continuous improvements to kitchen operations, menu execution, and overall guest experience
Compensation and Benefits
- $70-75k
- PTO
- Competitive compensation package and professional development support
- Dining discounts available at managed locations
Teaching and teamwork are the core of what we do on all levels. We look forward to meeting you.
Bower Surf Club provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
