Banquet Sous Chef - Bar Sprezzatura in Portland, Oregon at Makeready LLC

Inspired by the casual elegance of Italy, Bar Sprezzatura is a unique escape into Italian culture and cuisine. Located in the historic Heathman Hotel, Bar Sprezzatura is a bustling lunch spot by day and aperitivo and cicchetti bar at night. Whether enjoying a bustling meal, an aperitivo, or savory snacks, guests are transported to a world where timeless traditions meet the vibrant, sun-kissed charm of coastal Italy.

About the Role:

The Banquet Sous Chef plays an integral leadership role within the culinary team, supporting the Executive Chef and culinary leadership in the planning, preparation, and execution of banquet and catering operations. This highly organized, hands-on leader ensures every event is delivered with exceptional food quality, consistency, presentation, timing, and attention to detail.

Working across a variety of events—from intimate private dinners and executive meetings to weddings, social celebrations, and large-scale functions—the Banquet Sous Chef leads culinary execution while maintaining a strong focus on operational efficiency, food safety, labor management, and team development. This role partners closely with culinary, banquet, catering, and event teams to translate event specifications into memorable dining experiences.

Our Ideal candidate is:

A detail-oriented and highly organized culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume event environment. You approach each event with professionalism, preparation, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to hospitality.

You understand the importance of executing multiple events simultaneously while maintaining consistency and quality at every touchpoint. You will support the culinary philosophy and standards established by the Executive Chef while ensuring banquet menus are produced accurately, efficiently, and beautifully.

You are a hands-on leader who enjoys developing others, creating structure, and building strong partnerships across departments. You will mentor culinary team members, maintain high standards of cleanliness and organization, and ensure teams are properly prepared for each event through thoughtful planning, communication, production schedules, line checks, and pre-event execution.

The Banquet Sous Chef will assist in supervising and coordinating the planning, training, and leadership necessary to achieve departmental objectives related to food quality, guest satisfaction, labor productivity, food cost, employee engagement, cleanliness, and sanitation.

What you bring to the table:

• Personal Attributes
  • Exceptional organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
  • A gracious spirit of hospitality and commitment to creating memorable guest experiences.
  • Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple events and priorities simultaneously.
  • Calm, confident leadership in high-volume and time-sensitive environments.
  • Intellectual curiosity and a desire to continuously develop culinary knowledge.
• Professional Attributes
  • Advanced knowledge of kitchen fundamentals (knife skills, butchery, sauces, fabrication, all kitchen stations)
  • Knowledge of financial reporting and ability to analyze data
  • Have a strong eye towards development both personal and for your team
  • Desire to teach and mentor both your staff and culinary interns

Requested Capabilities

• minimum of 2 years’ experience in a fine dining high volume kitchen, with at least 1 years in a leadership role
• Knowledge of safety and hygiene protocols
• Working knowledge of HR practices and labor laws
• Ability to frequently lift up to 40 pounds
• Have the stamina to work in excess of 50 hours per week
• Spanish language skills a plus

As part of the Makeready collection, we proudly offer a variety of thoughtful benefits and perks for eligible team members including accommodating PTO/PTO exchange, medical/dental/vision benefits, maternity/paternity leave, pet insurance, company-matched dependent care & 401k, student loan repayment program and a wide range of additional ancillary benefits. The health, happiness and well-being of our team is our top priority.

We take pride in our Guiding Principles to help define how we successfully work together. We follow them not out of duty but live by them instinctively.

Makeready LLC and its affiliated entities are proud to encourage and support an environment where everyone can be a successful team member as their true independent self. We are an equal opportunity workplace and employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, disability, gender/sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. We are committed to building a team and a workplace where we are all able to be successful based solely on our individual qualifications, experience, abilities and job performance.