Junior Sous​

What is a Junior Sous Chef?

A junior sous chef job is the entry role into kitchen management, serving as a stepping stone to the full sous chef role. They’re typically in charge of the pass, the area where dishes are sent from the kitchen into the dining area. Their responsibilities within the kitchen ecosystem are to assist the senior staff by coordinating and managing junior staff. The other aspect of the role is to uphold the quality of dishes, managing the orders so that each station can efficiently work and deliver.

It’s common for junior sous chefs to work Monday through Sunday, before and during service, which is around 9 am-10 pm, depending on the establishment. The junior sous chef will work below the sous chef and head chef, allowing senior kitchen staff like the sous chef to focus on tasks like menu development and training chefs for specific sections.

Individuals with extensive culinary experience and management skills are the most appropriate candidates for this particular role. From this role, the natural step up for those looking to progress into a senior role is a senior sous chef position.

What skills does a Junior Sous Chef need?

For those wanting to work as a junior sous chef, they’ll need to demonstrate they have particular culinary skills to successfully perform in the role. These include:

• Being able to maintain their personal, kitchen and food hygiene to the highest standard
• Proficient knife skills
• A strong ability to communicate and effectively work in and manage a team
• Adept in a kitchen environment
• Outstanding organisation and management skills (on timing and checking consistency of food quality)
• Leadership and decision-making skills under pressure
• A passion for the culinary arts

What salary is a junior sous chef on?

A junior sous chef’s salary, as with most culinary roles, will vary depending on the business. However, the industry average for this role sits between £35,000 and £40,000 per year.