Kitchen Lead - Sous Chef

Job Title : Kitchen Lead

Location : Rock Nashville – Nashville, TN

Reports to : Executive Sous Chef

Type : Full-Time

Compensation : $55,000 – $65,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

Benefits : Health insurance, paid time off, meal stipend

Position Summary

Studio 1 Catering is seeking a hands-on, dependable Kitchen Lead to help guide our culinary operations. This position works directly with the Executive Sous Chef to manage daily kitchen execution, ensuring excellence in food quality, presentation, and team performance.

The Kitchen Lead oversees line cooks and utility / dish teams, supporting scheduling, training, and maintaining standards that reflect Studio 1's core values : hospitality, teamwork, flexibility, excellence, and growth. This role is ideal for a working lead—someone comfortable on the line, invested in mentoring others, and passionate about building a high-functioning, culture-driven kitchen.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise line cooks, prep cooks, and utility staff during prep and service.
• Model professionalism, consistency, and Studio 1 values in every interaction.
• Support scheduling, task delegation, and shift coverage to maintain staffing balance.
• Train team members on recipes, plating standards, and sanitation protocols.
• Foster a positive, inclusive kitchen culture that emphasizes growth and accountability.

Kitchen Operations & Quality Control

Coordination & Communication

Qualifications

Culture & Expectations

At Studio 1, culture comes before titles, tasks, or résumés. We are a people-first, family-style catering company serving Nashville's music and event community. Skills can be sharpened, but heart, attitude, and hospitality cannot—that's why we hire for culture first.

We go the extra mile to create a welcoming environment for our clients and our team. That means jumping through hoops to get it right, staying flexible in the face of change, and treating everyone—from artists to teammates—with respect and warmth.

Every Studio 1 team member is expected to embody our values :

Hospitality-minded – even in the kitchen, you're serving people first.

Team-driven – success comes from pitching in and working together.

Flexible under pressure – events move fast; you adapt with grit and creativity.

Committed to excellence – from prep to serving, details matter.

Positive energy – enthusiasm and hustle set the tone and make the kitchen hum.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, love working with a close-knit team, and take pride in serving meals that make people feel cared for, Studio 1 is the place for you.