Helena Avenue Bakery Sous Chef in Santa Barbara, California at Acme Ventures LLC

Do you love leading a kitchen team, making food people come back for, and helping cooks grow their skills? Helena Avenue Bakery is looking for a Sous Chef to join our culinary team.

Helena Avenue Bakery is part of Acme Hospitality, a family of award-winning restaurants, food and beverage concepts, and boutique hotels across California. We build hospitality experiences that inspire people, bring them together, and make them happy. Our core values are simple: Deliver Excellence, Embrace Originality, Act with Integrity, and Celebrate Community.

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily kitchen operations, overseeing cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers
• Help plan and develop menus, including seasonal changes, new dishes, and specials
• Train and mentor your team through daily coaching and side-by-side development
• Keep every plate consistent in taste, presentation, and portion through regular quality checks
• Manage inventory and ordering and work to reduce waste
• Maintain high standards for food safety, sanitation, and kitchen equipment
• Support hiring, scheduling, and performance management for the BOH team
• Help reach financial goals by working with the Chef on weekly sales and budgets
• Work closely with the front-of-house team, and support marketing events and community activities

Why Join Us

• Competitive pay of $26–$28 per hour
• Consistent 10-hour shifts
• Competitive benefits including medical, dental, vision and fringe benefits
• Employee discount at all Acme Hospitality's restaurants and hotels.
• A creative kitchen where your ideas help shape the menu
• A team culture built on respect, training, and community

Ready to lead with us?

What You Bring

• 2–4 years of experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar leadership role in a professional kitchen
• Culinary degree or relevant certification preferred
• Strong cooking skills and creativity in developing dishes and menus
• Proven ability to lead a team with respect while holding everyone to high standards
• In-depth knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and BOH systems
• Excellent organization, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced kitchen and stand for long periods while lifting heavy items
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays