Assistant Head Chef /Sous Chef

Zizzi Restaurants; Southampton; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on shift

50% off when off shift

Discounts on travel, cinema, and major

Big brands discounts

Flexible hours

Minimum-hour contract

Job summary

Zizzi Restaurants is seeking an Assistant Head Chef in Southampton. You will partner with the Head Chef to lead shifts, run the pass, and inspire a high-energy team in a busy kitchen that serves both dine-in and delivery orders.

The role requires hands-on leadership, a passion for Italian cuisine, and the ability to maintain exceptional quality and consistency across channels. Flexible hours and a minimum-hour contract are offered, with staff meals and attractive discount perks.

Qualifications

• Experience as Sous Chef or Senior Chef in high-volume kitchens.
• Love of Italian food, consistency and high standards.
• Strong leadership with the ability to run a shift and motivate a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen and run the pass in the Head Chef's absence, ensuring flawless, fast service.
• Deliver exceptional food quality and consistent output for dine-in and delivery orders.
• Support management in hitting KPIs with stock, labour, prep and cost control.
• Coach and develop junior chefs to build confidence, talent and team spirit.
• Act as a role model for safety, maintaining cleanliness and food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen operations

Stock management

Labour control

Team coaching

Food safety

Job description

Assistant Head Chef up to £14.25 per hour plus Tronc and Benefits

Our Story

Zizzi started in 1999 with one oven and a big dream of doing Italian food, our way. We don't do bland food, people or restaurants. You'll know us for bubbly pizza, fresh pasta, and good times.

About The Role

As an Assistant Head Chef, you have a vital leadership role in our open kitchen. Partnering with the Head Chef, you’ll step up to lead shifts, run the pass, and inspire the team during high-volume rushes. We’re looking for someone hands‑on who can balance a buzzing restaurant floor with our fast‑paced out‑of‑restaurant delivery channels. If you have the drive to step up, we’ll give you the platform to grow.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the kitchen and run the pass in the Head Chef's absence, keeping service flawless, fast, and on point.
• Deliver exceptional food quality and picture‑perfect consistency across dine-in and out‑of‑restaurant delivery orders.
• Support the management team by hitting kitchen performance metrics with stock, labour, managing prep and cost control.
• Coach and develop junior chefs, sharing your skills to build confidence, talent, and team spirit.
• Act as a role model for safety, ensuring kitchen cleanliness, compliance, and food safety are always spot on.

What's in it for you:

• Career development opportunities to fast-track your career to Head Chef.
• Flexible hours and the guaranteed stability of a minimum‑hour contract.
• Free meals when you’re on shift, and 50% off when you aren’t.
• Discounts on travel, cinema, and big brands

What we’re looking for:

• Experience as a Sous Chef, Junior Sous, or Senior Chef in a high‑volume, fast‑paced environment.
• A love of Italian food, consistency, and high standards.
• A confident leader who can run a shift and motivate a team.
• The ability to stay calm, organised, and ready to guide the team during our busiest times, including evenings, weekends and holiday periods.
• A solid understanding of kitchen operations, including stock management, wastage, and labour control.

Why you’ll fit right in:

We want you in the kitchen, as you are, from day 1. We love individuality - bold tattoos, bad singing, big laugh, brave choices. We’re a Times Top 500 Employer because we celebrate everyone’s differences. While we’re on that, we’re also the only Italian restaurant in the FT’s UK’s Best Employers 2026 Special Report (for working conditions, salary, potential for development and company image).