Brandwein’s
Here at Brandwein’s, our way is a little different: we believe good food done well has the power to make each person’s day a little bit better. We support and honor locally sourced ingredients with our freshly baked goods and delicious food. We celebrate creativity and reward hard work in an environment that is respectful, energetic, and fun.
We live by our Core Values: Be Caring, Be Humble, Be Hungry, Be Thoughtful, Be Positive. We begin each day with a “Good morning!” and end each shift with a “Thank you.”
Brandwein's is an equal opportunity employer. Our employees are the heart and soul of the business and we intend to do everything we can to make Brandwein’s a healthy and safe work environment for you. Everyone who enters our space has our promise to be treated with dignity and respect.
Catering Sous Chef
Voted one of Chapel Hill Magazine’s “Best Catering Companies,” Brandwein’s is excited to continue growing our catering team to better serve our community!
Brandwein’s Catering Department is growing, and we are excited to welcome a Catering Sous Chef — a hands-on, organized, detail-oriented culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume, hospitality-focused environment.
The Catering Sous Chef works directly under the Director of Culinary Operations and plays a critical leadership role in preparing, executing, and organizing catering orders of all sizes — from simple bagel and coffee drop-offs to large-scale events serving 500+ guests.
This person loves going above and beyond, takes an ownership mentality in every aspect of the culinary process, and approaches each catering experience with thoughtfulness. You are energized by creating beautiful, consistent products; ensuring every detail is correct; and making people’s days a little brighter through food and hospitality.
You understand that catering is hospitality at scale — it’s about being curious, noticing details, following through, and caring deeply about quality, presentation, and guest experience.
If you love food, leadership, organization, and the challenge of executing high-quality catering with precision and care… come join the fun!
Expectations
What success looks like for the Catering Sous Chef at Brandwein’s:
- Leading by example with enthusiasm, professionalism, and hospitality
- Maintaining high standards of accuracy, consistency, and quality in all catering prep
- Taking ownership of the catering kitchen — cleanliness, organization, labeling, prep, and flow
- Communicating proactively with the Director of Culinary Operations and the Catering Team
- Being responsible for managing the day when the Culinary Director is not present
- Supporting, training, and motivating fellow team members
- Supervising a culinary staff up to 10 team members
- Executing catering orders 100% accurately, 100% on time, 100% of the time
- Thriving under pressure during peak output
- Approaching each day with curiosity and a drive to go above and beyond
- Ensuring every catering customer receives an exceptional experience
We will count on our Catering Sous Chef to…
- Prepare all menu items with precision, consistency, and attention to detail
- Execute daily catering orders, ensuring accuracy, timing, quality, and presentation
- Prepare ingredients including slicing, portioning, labeling, mixing, assembling, and packaging
- Maintain correct cooking temperatures, portion sizes, and plating standards
- Set up and maintain organized prep and cooking stations
- Support custom catering requests and special menus
- Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitized kitchen at all times
- Follow all food safety, storage, and labeling procedures
- Support Brandwein’s commitment to a 100% Health Score
- Monitor equipment functionality and report issues promptly
- Manage, rotate, and maintain inventory for catering prep areas
- Assist in training, coaching, and developing team members
- Lead by example with a positive, energetic, and collaborative attitude
- Support a culture of care, humility, hunger, and positivity
- Work closely with the Director of Culinary Operations, Catering Director, and other teams to ensure seamless coordination
- Maintain composure, focus, and efficiency during high-volume periods
- Review daily catering orders before arrival to prepare for execution
- Arrive on time, prepared, and ready to work
- Double-check all outgoing orders for accuracy and completeness
- Support delivery loading and occasionally execute deliveries if needed
- Complete all side work and next-day prep before leaving
- Maintain awareness of inventory levels and communicate needs to respective departments
Compensation + Benefits
- Salary: $45,000 to $60,000 per year
- Discretionary bonuses
- Paid vacations
- Flexible scheduling
- Continued career growth
- Free meals
- Employee discounts
Related Attributes
- Team Player – Works collaboratively and supports others
- Proactive Communicator – Shares information early and often
- Customer Focused – Understands that catering is hospitality
- Detail Oriented – High accuracy and consistency
- Fast Paced – Thrives during busy seasons
- Positive Attitude – Brings energy and optimism
- Ownership Mentality – Treats the catering kitchen like their own
- Calm Under Pressure – Keeps a steady hand in high-volume moments
- Loves the “Last Minute” Order
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience in catering operations (ideally including large-scale events of 500+ guests)
- High level of organizational skills and the ability to manage many moving parts simultaneously
- Willingness to come in early, stay late, and work weekends or event nights as required
- Comfortable with both small, repeat catering orders and large, custom, high-end events
- Results-oriented, with attention to detail, follow-through, and commitment to delivering excellence
- A passion for food and hospitality, and alignment with our culture of “good food, done well”
- At least 3-4 years of line cook and/or catering experience
- Works well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment
- Maintains a consistent and dependable attendance in the workplace
- Can follow directions and instructions in a positive and accurate manner
- Legally eligible to work in the United States
- Open availability including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and some evenings
- Valid Driver’s License
- High school diploma or GED
Physical Demands
- Able to lift up to 50 lbs
- Can stand for long periods of time during shift
Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
