Private Sous Chef

Full-Time Private Sous Chef | Woodside, California
Local candidates only!

A busy family is seeking a full-time Private Sous Chef for their Woodside home, with occasional cooking at their San Francisco residence. You’ll serve as an on-site resource to the family’s lead Chef, supporting daily meals and a growing calendar of business dinners, while also cooking family dinners on your own with creative control. Some days you’ll cook live in the home. On other days you’ll come in during the morning to prep dinner so the family can reheat it that evening. This keeps staff presence in the home light and gives the family more time together.

The family is looking for creative, thoughtful, and flavorful meals, with a lean toward farm-to-table and Mediterranean cooking. The right Chef executes at a consistently high level, from ingredient selection to plating and flavor. You’ll be a true team player who is flexible, organized, and happy to jump in wherever needed, and you’ll enjoy the variety that comes with a dynamic household.

Schedule

• Four dinners per week, plus provisioning on a fifth day, typically falls within Sunday-Friday
• Dinners will be a mix of live cooking and healthy meal prep for the family to reheat in the evening
• Flexibility to support business dinners and additional needs as they come up
• Open to travel with the family

Responsibilities

• Prepare family dinners independently on some days, with creative input on menus
• On select days, prep dinners in the morning and leave them ready for the family to reheat that evening
• Support the Private Chef with prep, cooking, and business dinners
• Source and shop for groceries and specialty ingredients
• Provision the home, including meals for the family’s nanny
• Keep the kitchen clean, organized, and well stocked
• Travel with the family as needed

The Ideal Candidate

• 3+ years of professional culinary experience, with private home experience preferred
• Exceptional proficiency in Japanese cuisine, including the ability to execute an elevated omakase experience
• Leans toward farm-to-table and Mediterranean cooking styles
• Executes at a consistently high level, from ingredient selection to plating and flavor
• Knows how to prepare meals that hold and reheat well without losing quality
• Moves easily between refined family meals and elegant dinner parties
• Comfortable working both independently and in support of a lead Chef
• Respects the family’s time together and is comfortable keeping a low profile in the home
• Reliable vehicle and willingness to work between Woodside and San Francisco
• Open to travel
• Legally authorized to work in the US
• Local to the Bay Area
• Willing to complete a background check and provide references

Compensation

• $140,000++ base salary
• Full medical/dental/vision
• 401k
• 10 days PTO
• Annual review

DM Estate Staffing is a domestic staffing firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, dedicated to connecting exceptional Private Service Professionals with private clients and family offices across the United States. Built over more than a decade on referrals and repeat clients, we have grown thoughtfully by doing one thing well: finding the right person for the right home.

Every member of our recruiting team has worked personally in the homes of prominent private clients, as estate managers, private chefs, household leaders, and more. That lived experience is what sets us apart. We don't just understand private service in theory; we've navigated its nuances, its demands, and its deeply personal nature from the inside. That perspective shapes every search we conduct and every candidate we represent.

We encourage you to regularly explore our job board and apply for any roles that align with your experience and aspirations. When your background aligns with what our clients are looking for, we will be in touch. We hope to have the opportunity to work with you soon.