Executive Sous Chef

Position Description:

Perched on Alexandria's waterfront, Vola's Dockside Grill is a neighborhood favorite with breathtaking, unobstructed views of the Potomac River. Our all-day menu celebrates the best of the region with fresh seafood, market oysters, and elevated comfort food crafted from seasonal ingredients.

We’re looking for a driven, hands-on Executive Sous Chef who thrives in a fast-paced, full-service, high-volume restaurant. This is a leadership role for a culinary professional who can execute at a high level while developing people, protecting quality, and keeping the kitchen running with precision.

Position Responsibilities: Key Accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the shift: Set the pace, standards, and culture for the culinary team.
• Own execution: Deliver consistent, high-quality food across every shift and service.
• Develop talent: Train, coach, and hold cooks accountable while building a strong internal pipeline.
• Drive kitchen performance: Maintain exceptional standards for prep, line execution, sanitation, organization, and ticket times.
• Own Kitchen Cost Controls: Manage food costs, waste, inventory, ordering, and portion control with a sharp eye for detail.
• Partner with leadership: Collaborate with the Executive Chef and General Manager to drive sales, profitability, and operational excellence.
• Stay guest-focused: Understand that every plate is an opportunity to create a memorable experience.
• Own the details: Lead by example with urgency, organization, consistency, and professionalism.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Qualifications - Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in a full-service, high-volume restaurant.
• Strong working knowledge of scratch cooking, recipe execution, prep, and line operations.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, train, and hold a culinary team accountable.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, inventory, ordering, and cost controls.
• Ability to remain calm, focused, and decisive in a high-pressure service environment.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• A hands-on leadership style with a high sense of urgency and pride in execution.
• Passion for food, hospitality, and developing people.
• Must be able to speak and understand English.

Additional Information: People are the core of our business. That’s why our benefits include:

• Monthly profit-sharing bonus
• 401K
• Health Insurance
• Vision, Dental, and Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick)
• Parking Pass
• Complimentary dining privileges at any of our ARP locations
• Opportunity for personal and professional growth