Sous Chef

Black Tartan Kitchen — Carleton Place, Ontario

We are a small, family-run restaurant in the heart of downtown Carleton Place, focused on thoughtful cooking, excellent ingredients, warm hospitality, and having a damn good time while we do it.

We are looking for an experienced Sous Chef with a strong work ethic, a genuine passion for the culinary arts and hospitality, and the leadership skills to help keep a small, busy kitchen running smoothly.

This is a hands-on position for someone who loves to cook, enjoys working with people, and wants to play an important role in the continued growth of our kitchen and team.

The Position

As Sous Chef, you’ll work closely with Chef de Cuisine Joshua Eyamie to lead the day-to-day operation of the kitchen. You’ll be involved in everything from prep and service to menu development, ordering, kitchen organization, training, and maintaining the standards we expect from our food and our team.

You’ll be expected to lead by example. That means being on the line when needed, helping your team through a busy service, making sure prep is organized and completed properly, and stepping in wherever you’re needed.

We’re looking for someone who can take direction but also knows when to take initiative. Someone who can hold a standard without an attitude.

Most importantly, we want someone who genuinely enjoys cooking and wants to help build a strong, positive kitchen culture.

What We're Looking For

- Minimum 4–5 years of professional kitchen experience
- Previous experience in a Sous Chef, Junior Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, or similar leadership role
- Experience working in a busy, professional/industrial kitchen environment
- Culinary diploma or formal culinary training is an asset but not mandatory
- A genuine love of food, cooking, and hospitality
- Strong understanding of professional kitchen operations and service
- Confident leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support a team
- Organized, dependable, and able to take initiative
- Strong attention to detail and pride in your work
- Ability to maintain consistency and quality during busy services
- Comfortable giving direction and providing constructive feedback




- A willingness to teach, mentor, and help develop less-experienced cooks
- Creative and curious, with an interest in seasonal cooking and menu development
- Able to communicate clearly and respectfully with both kitchen and front-of-house staff
- A dynamic personality and valuable sense of humour
- A genuine people person who enjoys working as part of a close-knit team
- Willing to jump in wherever needed — we’re a small team, and everyone contributes

Responsibilities Working alongside Chef de Cuisine, your responsibilities will include:

- Leading kitchen operations during service
- Helping coordinate daily prep and production
- Ensuring dishes are consistently executed to Black Tartan Kitchen standards
- Supporting menu development and daily specials
- Assisting with ordering, inventory, and kitchen organization
- Training and mentoring cooks and other kitchen staff
- Helping maintain food quality, cleanliness, and food safety standards
- Communicating effectively with front-of-house staff during service
- Helping manage kitchen workflow and labour during busy periods
- Stepping into any station when required
- Opening and closing the kitchen as needed
- Helping create a positive, respectful, and productive kitchen environment

What You Can Expect

- Working closely with Chef de Cuisine Joshua Eyamie
- A creative kitchen with a strong focus on quality ingredients and seasonal cooking
- A small, supportive team where your ideas and personality are valued
- A real prospect to contribute to menu development and the direction of the kitchen
- Opportunities to mentor and develop other cooks
- A workplace that takes its food seriously without taking itself too seriously
- A hands-on role where no two days are exactly the same
- A consistent schedule,



with regular kitchen days typically Wednesday through Saturday
- Most weeks you will have Sunday through Tuesday off, as the restaurant is normally closed those days
- The chance to grow with a small, independently owned restaurant

Compensation

- Competitive wage based on experience
- Weekly kitchen tip-out
- 50% of all restaurant gratuities are allocated to the kitchen tip pool and distributed equally based on hours worked

Why Work With Us? I've worked for enough places with "difficult" owners to know how important it is to treat teammates with respect.

At Black Tartan Kitchen, we encourage creativity, professional development, open communication, and a healthy sense of humour. We are a small family-run business, and we strive to treat one another like family.

Being a Sous Chef here means more than managing a kitchen during service. You'll have the opportunity to work closely with the Chef de Cuisine, contribute ideas, develop your own skills, and help shape the people and kitchen around you.

Working in a restaurant can be demanding at times. We don't pretend otherwise. But the right person will leave each service stronger, more knowledgeable, and better prepared for a successful career in the culinary industry.

We take pride in helping cooks grow into skilled, confident chefs, and we're looking for someone who wants to be part of that process.

If you're looking for more than just a job and want to be part of a team that genuinely cares about food, hospitality, and each other, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your résumé and a brief introduction outlining your experience and interest in joining our team. Better yet, drop off a résumé in person — bonus points for not doing so during service hours!

Pay: $20.00-$24.00 per hour

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Flexible schedule

Ability to commute/relocate:
- Carleton Place, ON K7C 2V5: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Education:
- Secondary School (preferred)

Experience:
- Culinary: 3 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Sous Chef (Carleton Place)
🏢 Black Tartan Kitchen
📍 Carleton Place