Knoebel Events is an event center inside the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management dedicated to providing necessary experience for hospitality students in a real working environment. We are dedicated to providing an experiential work opportunity for our students while also providing an exceptional client and guest experience.

Position Summary

The Sous Chef reports directly to the Executive Chef and assists in creating an environment of enrichment and learning for students who may, or may not, have kitchen experience while delivering an elevated level of service and quality to our paying patrons at Knoebel Events. Product quality, food safety, employee management, professional expertise, and mentorship qualities are all imperative in this position.

Essential Functions

• Uphold Knoebel Events brand standards through food quality, consistency, development, and execution from purchases to final product.
• Help with menu development and annual menu updates. Menu development focuses on client’s needs and requests and current industry trends.
• Maintain and oversee food safety and sanitation standards.
• Manage an entirely scratch food kitchen while striving to maintain a 30% food cost.
• Developing student staff to ensure efficient operations and a viable learning experience.
• Ensuring staffing levels are adequate and are in line with appropriate monthly labor cost goals.
• Assist in the hiring of student employees.
• Maintain kitchen maintenance and cleanliness.
• Respond to any student or client related e-mail inquiries or requests.
• Collaborate with clients to execute tastings and special menus.
• Uphold one membership to an outside organization related to the job and/or some form of educational advancement aimed at personal and professional growth.
• Complete weekly kitchen staff schedules.
• Overseeing operations outlined in the Executive Chef’s job description should the Executive Chef be unavailable or absent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Uphold Knoebel Events brand standards through food quality, consistency, development, and execution from purchases to final product.
• Help with menu development and annual menu updates. Menu development focuses on client’s needs and requests and current industry trends.
• Maintain and oversee food safety and sanitation standards.
• Manage an entirely scratch food kitchen while striving to maintain a 30% food cost.
• Developing student staff to ensure efficient operations and a viable learning experience.
• Ensuring staffing levels are adequate and are in line with appropriate monthly labor cost goals.
• Assist in the hiring of student employees.
• Maintain kitchen maintenance and cleanliness.
• Respond to any student or client related e-mail inquiries or requests.
• Collaborate with clients to execute tastings and special menus.
• Uphold one membership to an outside organization related to the job and/or some form of educational advancement aimed at personal and professional growth.
• Complete weekly kitchen staff schedules.
• Overseeing operations outlined in the Executive Chef’s job description should the Executive Chef be unavailable or absent.

Required Qualifications

• Culinary Arts Degree and/or 5 years sous chef experience or equivalent.
• A ServSafe Certification or proof of ability to acquire a certificate if expired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality
• Sous Chef for banquet, full-service restaurant, or hotel operations for a minimum of 5 years.

Working Environment

• High intensity on your feet for most of workday. Some office work is also required.
• 37.5 hours work week or more depending on business levels.
• Unexpected interruptions often occur, and the stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is above moderate.
• Lift up to fifty pounds.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Minimum of 37.5 hours per week with flexible and varied hours as business requires and staffing is needed. Schedule changes from week to week.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 30, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 9.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $56,500 - $64,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.