Deputy Kitchen Manager

Kew Green Hotels; Horley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hotel discounts

Retailer discounts

Gym & leisure access

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Kew Green Hotels is seeking a Deputy Kitchen Manager to support a high-quality kitchen operation and lead the team in partnership with the Kitchen Manager. You’ll ensure food safety, quality, and profitability while mentoring staff and driving guest satisfaction.

The role requires strong leadership, hands-on management, and a proactive approach to menu planning, cost control, and waste reduction. Excellent communication and teamwork are essential for success in a busy hotel environment.

Qualifications

• Experience at Sous Chef or strong Chef de Partie level.
• Good understanding of kitchen operations, food safety and compliance standards.
• Strong leadership potential and ability to motivate others.
• Proactive, hands-on approach to daily kitchen tasks.
• Commercial awareness with focus on cost control and waste reduction.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the kitchen team in the absence of the Kitchen Manager.
• Ensure all menu items meet brand standards, quality, and safety guidelines.
• Assist in menu planning and implementation with Chef Manager.
• Maintain cleanliness, organisation, and compliance throughout the kitchen.
• Support stocktakes, ordering, and stock control to minimise waste and support profitability.
• Contribute ideas to improve kitchen performance and guest experience.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety, and food hygiene compliance.
• Train, motivate and supervise team members to deliver service excellence.

Skills

Sous Chef level experience

Food safety knowledge

Cost control

Waste reduction

Team leadership

Communication

Pressure handling

Proactive hands-on

Job description

We're looking for a driven and ambitious Deputy Kitchen Manager to support the delivery of a high-quality, efficient and profitable kitchen operation. Working closely with the Kitchen Manager, you'll play a key role in leading the team, maintaining standards and ensuring every dish contributes to a great guest experience. About the Role You'll support the day-to-day leadership of the kitchen, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety and team performance. Key responsibilities include:

• Stepping into a leadership role in the absence of the Kitchen Manager, ensuring smooth operations.
• Ensuring all food is prepared, presented and served to brand standards and food safety requirements.
• Working alongside the Kitchen Manager on menu planning and implementation to drive quality and guest appeal.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, organisation and compliance across the kitchen.
• Supporting stocktakes, ordering and stock control to minimise waste and support profitability.
• Contributing ideas and feedback to improve kitchen performance and guest experience.
• Ensuring all health, safety, hygiene and food safety standards are consistently met.
• Training, motivating and supervising team members to deliver service excellence., Career development through fully funded apprenticeships and our internal development programme.
• Discounts on hotel stays and a variety of major retailers, restaurants and days out.
• Free use of our gyms, pools, and leisure facilities.
• 24/7 access to wellbeing, financial, and legal support.

At Kew Green Hotels, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know at [e-mail] - we're here to support you.

You're an aspiring kitchen leader with a passion for food, people and performance. You're ready to take on more responsibility and develop your leadership capability.

We're looking for someone who brings:

• Experience at Sous Chef or strong Chef de Partie level.
• A good understanding of kitchen operations, food safety and compliance standards.
• Strong leadership potential, with the ability to motivate and influence others.
• A proactive, hands, but
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of cost control and waste reduction.
• The ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• A positive, can‑do attitude and a desire to progress your career.

Kew Green Hotels is one of the UK's leading hotel management companies, operating a diverse portfolio of global brands. We're a people-driven business that's passionate about performance, guest experience, and creating hotels and teams that make us proud.

Learn more about who we are and what drives us at www.kewgreenhotels.com.