Sous Chef

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Description

NOTE: This position is based out of our Rancho Cucamonga, CA store.
9040 E. Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

General Job Description Overview:
The Sous Chef supports the Director of Culinary in the daily execution of high-volume culinary operations within a supermarket setting. This role is responsible for assisting with food production, quality control, food safety compliance, inventory management, and team supervision across multiple fresh food programs, including prepared foods, hot foods, cold foods, Grab & Go, and catering support as assigned.
The Sous Chef plays a key hands-on leadership role, ensuring standardized recipes, portion controls, and HACCP requirements are consistently followed while maintaining attractive food presentation and operational efficiency. In addition to culinary execution, the Sous Chef supports training and coaching of kitchen team members, promotes a safe and sanitary work environment, and helps drive exceptional customer experiences aligned with the company’s service standards and core values.
This position serves as a developmental role for advancement into a Director of Culinary position and requires flexibility to support business needs in a fast-paced, retail food environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Operational Excellence & Financial Management:
• Assist the Director of Culinary in planning, organizing, and controlling daily kitchen operations to achieve production, quality, labor, and food cost goals.
• Execute production schedules and ensure accurate preparation quantities to minimize waste and maximize efficiency.
• Record production, yields, and waste on production sheets; use data to forecast future needs.
• Convert recipes and ingredient quantities accurately as batch sizes change.
• Support inventory control by monitoring ingredient levels, rotating stock using FIFO, and assisting with ordering.
• Actively participate in shrink prevention and cost-control efforts.

Food Quality & Compliance:
• Ensure all food is prepared according to standardized recipes, portion controls, and Vallarta quality standards.
• Maintain strict compliance with HACCP guidelines, health department regulations, and food safety requirements.
• Monitor time and temperature controls throughout receiving, preparation, storage, and service.
• Inspect food for appearance, taste, seasoning, and consistency to maintain authentic product standards.
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary work areas, equipment, and storage locations at all times.

Customer Service & Experience:
• Lead by example while adhering to Vallarta’s Nuestra CASA pledge, delivering extraordinary customer service at all times.
• Model Vallarta’s core values: Customer Service, Commitment, Integrity, Respect, Humility, and Teamwork.
• Support seamless service execution during peak business periods to ensure a positive guest experience.
• Address customer concerns or feedback related to food quality or service promptly and professionally.

Team Leadership & Development:
• Provide daily guidance and direction to culinary team members during assigned shifts.
• Assist in training, coaching, and developing team members on recipes, food safety, sanitation, and operational standards.
• Communicate staffing, operational, or performance concerns to the Director of Culinary
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and a respectable work environment.

Collaboration & Communication:
• Support operations across Taqueria, Prepared Foods, Juice Bar, Grab & Go, and Catering as assigned.
• Maintain clear communication with leadership regarding production needs, shortages, or operational challenges.
• Ensure timely escalation of issues that may impact food safety, quality, or service.

Safety:
• Follow and enforce all safety policies and procedures, ensuring proper use of equipment and PPE.
• Report all incidents, injuries, or unsafe conditions immediately.
• Ensure compliance with Vallarta’s dress code and professional appearance standards.
• Adhere to all company policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Other Duties:
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.
• Support all current and future culinary programs implemented by Vallarta Supermarkets.
• Maintain flexibility to support business needs across departments.

Knowledge and Skills
• Strong knowledge of high-volume food production and batch cooking.
• Ability to follow recipes, portion standards, and food safety requirements precisely.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate diverse teams.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Basic mathematics, computer skills, including data entry and production tracking.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English[GE1.1][GE1.2].

Required Education and Experience
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in high-volume or quantity food production.
• ServSafe and/or Food Manager Certification required (or ability to obtain).

Working Conditions:
• Fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and use of hands.
• Ability to lift, push, or carry up to 50 pounds.
• Exposure to hot and cold environments (kitchen, walk-ins, freezers).
• Moderate to loud noise levels.
• Must maintain regular attendance for scheduled shifts.
• May also have to do some light lifting of supplies and materials from time to time. Ability to lift to 30 lbs. independently and up to 50 lbs. with assistance.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a non-exempt level position, The work schedule may change based on business needs; therefore, flexibility in daily hours and days worked is required, including afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Some travel required (10%), including overnight stays, across all Vallarta store locations. Mileage reimbursement program for approved business travel.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employees may perform other duties as directed. All employees are expected to perform any reasonable task or request that is consistent with fulfilling company goals and objectives.

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Required Experience

California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) Notice to Applicants

This notice explains to you, pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), how Vallarta Supermarkets (“Vallarta,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) may collect your information in relation to your application for employment and potential employment with us.

For purposes of this notice, “Personal Information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular California resident or household, or as otherwise defined under the CCPA.

“Personal Information” does not include certain information, including publicly available information lawfully made available from government records, deidentified or aggregate information, or other information excepted under the CCPA.

Information We Collect about Applicants
We need you to provide certain information in order for you to complete your application for employment with Vallarta. The following provides the categories of Personal Information we may collect about applicants as part of the application process, and/or our employees if ultimately hired.

• Personal Identifiers. We may collect your name, driver’s license or state identification card number, passport number or other government identification number (including U.S. work authorization number), Social Security information, residence/postal address, email address(es), phone number(s), and other contact information during the application and recruitment process. We may collect your emergency contact information as well. If you are hired, we may collect additional personal identifiers about you to facilitate the employment relationship.
• Characteristics of Protected Classifications under California or Federal law. We may collect your age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, and marital status.
• Biometric Information. We may collect your fingerprints to facilitate the employment relationship, if you are hired.
• Professional or Employment-Related Information. Depending on your role/duties with Vallarta, we may collect information regarding your criminal history, driving history, and credit history as part of our employment background check. We also collect information regarding your professional and employment history and other qualifications you provide in your employment application, including references, skills/abilities, employment goals and expectations, and other related information (if you choose to provide them).
• Education Information. We collect information regarding your professional and education history to the extent provided in your resume/application.
• Thermal or other Health-Related Information. If you apply in-person or come to our store(s) as part of the application process, we may need to take your temperature or other similar information as part of our health protection policies. However, this information is not retained.
• Inferences. We gather information about your employment history with Vallarta, such as the company location/facility to which you are assigned, position and description of duties, fulltime and part-time status, pay rate, as well as descriptions about your job performance and skills. We may also draw other inferences such as your characteristics, job preferences, personal hobbies, activities, foreign language capabilities, other abilities and the like.
Purposes for Collection of Your Personal Information
We use the above categories of personal information for the following business purpose(s):

• To make recruitment and employment decisions, including assessing your application and qualifications for employment with us.
• To conduct and verify background checks (where applicable).
• If hired, to facilitate onboarding, payroll, benefit, and leave of absence administration
• For security purposes.
• To obtain and/or maintain insurance policies and coverage.
• To comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• To manage workers’ compensation claims and conduct workplace investigations.

Third-Party Collection of Personal Information
The Company may use third-party vendors, such as Snag-a-Job, to facilitate the application process for applicants. In this process, these third parties may collect an applicant’s personal information and provide it to us for employment decisions.

Additional CCPA Disclosures
At this time, the CCPA does not afford applicants or employees the right to make requests regarding their Personal Information as it relates to the application and/or employment relationship. This does not affect other rights you may have under other laws.

Further, nothing in this notice restricts Vallarta’s rights or ability to:

• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Meet any other legal obligation, including complying with lawful inquiries, investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other requirements of applicable lawful authorities.
• Exercise its legal rights and defend claims.
• Report potentially unlawful activity to appropriate law enforcement and cooperate in any resulting investigation.
• Detect and respond to unauthorized activity and security incidents.
• Protect against and report potential illegal activity and/or fraud; or
• Provide information to our service providers in relation to the above listed purposes, or transfer information as part of a merger, acquisition, or other transfer of some or all of our business to another party.

Contact Us
For more information or any questions about this notice, please contact Human Resources, at 818-898-0088.

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