Job Description

Executive Sous Chef – Luxury Residential Dining

Irvine Company Villas, Fashion Island – Newport Beach, CA

Sodexo at The Irvine Company Villas at Fashion Island is seeking an exceptional Executive Sous Chef to lead daily culinary operations for a luxury, resort‑style residential community. This role oversees the café, lounge, social hour activations, poolside service, and onsite catering for a 900‑resident property known for elevated hospitality and a strong sense of community.

As the sole manager onsite, the Executive Sous Chef leads an hourly supervisor and a team of eight, ensuring seamless service across a seven‑day‑a‑week operation. This is a hands‑on leadership role for a chef who thrives in guest‑facing environments, enjoys building relationships with regulars, and can balance culinary creativity with operational discipline.

What You'll Do

• Oversee daily culinary operations for the café, lounge, poolside service, and resident social hours

• Lead and support an hourly team of 8, including an onsite supervisor

• Execute a fresh, approachable menu featuring salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, smoothies, and a full coffee program

• Deliver high‑quality catering for resident events and community gatherings

• Maintain resort‑style service standards with strong guest engagement and relationship‑building

• Oversee specialty offerings including fresh pizza from the onsite oven and Friday grill activations

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

• Experience in restaurants, hotels, or catering with strong guest‑facing presence

• Ability to manage solo as the only manager onsite in a seven‑day operation

• Strong culinary and operational skills including ordering, prep systems, and service flow

• Comfort with administrative tasks such as scheduling, inventory, and basic computer work

• Leadership that builds trust and fosters a positive, appreciated team culture

• Commitment to hospitality and delivering a warm, consistent resident experience

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experienceMinimum Management Experience - 2 years Minimum Functional Experience – 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.