Executive Sous Chef

About the job

Based at Mandarin Oriental,
Hangzhou, the Executive Sous Chef is an integral member of the pre-opening
culinary leadership team and will support the Executive Chef in establishing
a world-class culinary destination. The role is responsible for assisting in
the strategic direction, operational execution, and financial performance of all
kitchen operations, ensuring alignment with Mandarin Oriental standards
and brand expectations. During the pre-opening phase, the Executive Sous Chef
will lead culinary planning, kitchen setup, colleague recruitment
and development, SOP implementation, and operational readiness initiatives.
After opening, the role will oversee the daily operation of all kitchens,
driving culinary innovation, maintaining exceptional food quality and hygiene
standards, and delivering memorable dining experiences that reflect
the legendary service and craftsmanship of Mandarin Oriental.

As
Executive Sous Chef you will be responsible for the following
duties:

• Support the Executive Chef in the planning
  and execution of all culinary pre-opening activities.
• Lead the setup
  and commissioning of all kitchens, equipment, storage areas and operational
  workflows.
• Assist in recruiting, onboarding, training and developing
  the culinary brigade in accordance with Mandarin Oriental standards.


• Support menu development, recipe standardization, food costing and supplier
  selection.
• Implement kitchen operating procedures, HACCP programmes,
  food safety standards and quality assurance processes.
• Coordinate
  opening schedules, operational trials, mock services and readiness assessments
  across all culinary outlets.

• Support the Executive Chef
  in overseeing the daily operation of all culinary outlets, ensuring exceptional
  quality, consistency and efficiency.
• Lead, inspire, coach and develop
  the culinary brigade, fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability
  and continuous improvement.
• Ensure all food is prepared and presented
  in accordance with Mandarin Oriental standards and approved recipes.


• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, cleanliness
  and compliance with HACCP and local regulations.
• Participate in kitchen
  equipment commissioning, OS&E establishment, supplier onboarding and operational
  testing during the pre-opening phase.
• Monitor food quality,
  presentation and guest satisfaction throughout all meal periods.


• Oversee production planning, staffing deployment and kitchen scheduling
  to meet operational demands.
• Drive food cost control through effective
  purchasing, inventory management, portion control and waste reduction.


• Monitor departmental budgets, kitchen supplies, utilities and operating
  expenses while supporting the achievement of financial targets.


• Collaborate closely with Food & Beverage, Stewarding, Purchasing
  and Engineering to ensure seamless hotel operations.
• Identify
  opportunities for menu innovation, process improvement and enhanced guest
  experiences.
• Ensure all action points arising from operational meetings
  are implemented effectively throughout the culinary team.
• Act on behalf
  of the Executive Chef during periods of absence, assuming full responsibility
  for all culinary operations.
• Perform any other reasonable duties
  assigned by the Executive Chef.

As Executive Sous Chef,
we expect from you:

• Professional culinary qualification
  or diploma in Culinary Arts or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7
  years' experience in progressively responsible culinary leadership
  roles, including experience as Executive Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef within
  a luxury five-star hotel, luxury hotel or internationally recognised fine dining
  environment.
• Previous luxury hotel pre-opening experience is considered
  a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing large
  multicultural culinary teams.
• Excellent knowledge of international
  culinary techniques, food safety regulations and HACCP standards. Experience
  working with diverse culinary concepts and Chinese market expectations is highly
  desirable.
• Strong financial acumen with proven experience in food
  costing, purchasing, inventory management, budgeting and cost control.


• Excellent organizational, planning and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume luxury
  hospitality environment.
• Passion for culinary innovation, creativity
  and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Excellent communication
  and leadership skills.
• Fluent English language skills
  are preferred.

Our commitment to you

• Learning & Development.
  
  Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes
  for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously.


• MOstay. When you work as hard as our colleagues do, it’s important to take
  time off. As a member of the #MOfamily, you can stay with us wherever you go
  in the world. The MOstay programme offers complimentary nights and additionally
  attractive rates on rooms for you and your loved ones.
• Heath &
  Colleague Wellness.
  
  Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to
  us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our
  colleagues, globally.
• Retirement Plans. When you show commitment to
  us, we reciprocate. We offer different retirement plans depending on the length
  of your service and your role.

We’re Fans.

Are you?