Sous Chef

MUSKOKA BAY RESORT – Sous Chef

Reporting To: Executive Chef/Sr. Director of Food & Beverage

Department: Culinary

Terms: Permanent, Full-Time

WHO WE ARE

No matter the season, no matter the reason, Freed Hotels & Resorts have one mission: to create memories for every guest who stays with us. We achieve this with our best-in-class, detail-oriented service at our growing portfolio of properties throughout Ontario.

Muskoka Bay Resort redefines what it means to play and stay; to relax and live. Our resort features spectacular amenities through every season. This magnificent property boasts a superior, first-class golf course, The Cliffside Restaurant with spectacular views from the patio, a brand-new 88 room hotel, scheduled to open in 2026. This hotel will feature a one-of-a-kind, landmark rooftop restaurant with a pool and unobstructed views of picturesque Muskoka. Be a part of the exciting change and choose Muskoka Bay Resort as your employer of choice

POSITION SUMMARY

Muskoka Bay Resort requires an energetic, motivated and career-minded Sous Chef for the preparation of high-quality food in a timely, efficient, sanitary and consistent manner. In this position, you must be prepared to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure work environment, while maintaining the organizational ability to identify and act on job duties quickly and effectively. As a lead team member; you must ensure you maintain in a dynamic workplace in the executive chef's absence; follow all safety procedures, and have a high threshold for heat in a kitchen environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• The expectation is that you on an individual basis and in a team setting, foster a positive, collaborative and inclusive environment. Leading by example through all opportunities, engagements and in a coaching and teaching environment with all team members within the Culinary department.
• Ensure consistent food preparation and the highest calibre of food presentation, taking advantage of all opportunities to improve upon both, and ensuring communication to the Executive Chef.
• Provide input for menus, creating, developing, and recommending recipes, when necessary, of other staff, to create a consistent and quality food product.
• Aid the Executive Chef in ordering and inventory of food products for the preparation and operation, of an efficiently run kitchen.
• Ensure food is stored in appropriate containers, labelled, and rotated to ensure high standards of freshness, minimizing waste and maximizing quality.
• Aid the Executive Chef in creating, implementing, and maintaining department objectives and to ensure they are met and exceeded.
• Respond in a positive and timely manner to all internal and external guest requests and complaints, while meeting Muskoka Bay Resorts' standards to exceed the guest's expectations.
• Strive to uphold a safe working environment and be Health and Safety conscious and actively involved in maintaining and improving a safe work environment. Ensure maintenance requests, incident reports and incident investigations are submitted and followed up with.
• Seek opportunities to increase food revenue, decrease kitchen expenses and maximize departmental productivity without compromising our guests' satisfaction.
• Create decorative and interesting food displays for special events
• Supervise and participate in the production and plating of all food service areas, to maintain the best quality food style possible following all established recipes.
• Carry out other related duties which may be assigned by management.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, ATTRIBUTES

• Mastery of food preparation methods, cooking techniques, and plating skills across various cuisines.
• Strong understanding of menu development, costing, and portion control.
• Experience in designing menus, including seasonal and special event offerings.
• Ability to introduce new dishes and culinary trends to enhance the dining experience.
• Proficiency in managing inventory, ordering supplies, and minimizing food waste.
• Experience in budgeting, food cost analysis, and maintaining profitability.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations and kitchen hygiene standards.
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and maintaining a clean, organized workspace.
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate with the head chef, kitchen brigade, and front-of-house team.
• Collaborative and adaptable to work in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to make quick, informed decisions during service and troubleshoot kitchen issues effectively.
• Capable of managing the kitchen in the absence of the Executive Chef.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high-quality output.
• Experience in maintaining smooth workflow during busy service times.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards and staying updated with culinary trends and innovations.
• Willingness to further develop personal culinary skills and inspire the kitchen team.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A diploma or degree in culinary arts or a related field is often required.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of professional kitchen experience, with at least 1-2 years in a supervisory or leadership role (such as Chef de Partie).
• Proven experience in managing multiple sections of the kitchen.
• Ability to lead, train, and mentor kitchen staff, ensuring smooth operation during service.
• Experience in managing staff schedules, assigning duties, and resolving kitchen-related issues.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

• We will provide you with a supportive, communication driven workplace.
• Provide a company culture that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity.
• Empower you to make decisions and solve problems.
• Competitive compensation package that will be commensurate with experience.
• Complimentary amenity access to all Resorts within Freed Hotels & Resorts Portfolio (Muskoka Bay, Horseshoe Resort, Deerhurst Resort), discounted F&B, lodging, events and more.

The above job description is not intended to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills or efforts associated with or expected of the role but are intended to accurately reflect principal job elements.

Visa Requirements: Must be eligible to work in Canada

Muskoka Bay Resort is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application process, please contact Human Resources to discuss your needs.