Sous Chef

Sous Chef — Vecino Detroit

Vecino is a James Beard-nominated modern Mexican restaurant and agave bar in Detroit's Midtown. Named one of the 41 best Mexican restaurants in the country by The New York Times, we've also been recognized by Esquire's Best New Restaurants, Eater's Detroit Restaurant of the Year, the Detroit Free Press, and 50 Best Discovery. Our kitchen is built around an in-house masa program — we nixtamalize heirloom corn and grind it fresh daily on our own molino — and a menu that draws on Mexico City, Oaxaca, and the Great Lakes.

We're looking for a Sous Chef to join our leadership team and work directly alongside our Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine.

What you'll do

• Run service on the line and lead the kitchen in the absence of the Executive Chef and Chef de Cuisine
• Train, coach, and schedule line cooks and prep team
• Own daily prep lists, ordering, receiving, and inventory for your stations
• Maintain quality, consistency, and plating standards across every dish
• Contribute to menu development, R&D, and our masa and nixtamal program
• Uphold food safety, sanitation, and labeling standards (ServSafe or equivalent)
• Manage food cost, waste, and labor with the chef team
• Support private dining and special events

Who you are

• 2+ years of experience as a Sous Chef or senior line cook in a high-volume, chef-driven kitchen
• Strong technical foundation — knife skills, sauces, butchery, live fire, and a sharp palate
• A leader who teaches by example, stays calm on a busy Saturday, and holds the line on standards
• Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable with ordering, inventory, and cost tracking
• Genuine interest in Mexican cuisine and traditional technique; masa or nixtamal experience is a plus
• Available nights and weekends
• Spanish is a plus but not required

Compensation & benefits

• Full time, salaried: $70,000–$90,000 depending on experience
• Paid time off, plus Michigan paid sick leave
• Staff meals
• Closed Mondays
• Room to grow — we're opening a second location in Cleveland this fall

To apply, send your resume and a short note about why you want to cook at Vecino.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person