Deputy Kitchen Manager

Kew Green Hotels; Horley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on hotel stays

Discounts at retailers/restaurants

Free gym, pool and leisure facilities

Wellbeing support (24/7)

Fully funded apprenticeships

Job summary

Kew Green Hotels is seeking a driven Deputy Kitchen Manager to support the delivery of a high-quality, efficient kitchen operation. Working with the Kitchen Manager, you will lead the team, uphold brand standards and contribute to guest satisfaction.

You will support daily kitchen leadership, ensure food safety and team performance, and collaborate on menu planning, stock control and training. This role offers development through funded apprenticeships and wellbeing benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience at Sous Chef or strong Chef de Partie level.
• Good understanding of kitchen operations, food safety and compliance standards.
• Strong leadership potential with the ability to motivate others.
• Proactive hands-on approach and willingness to step up when needed.
• Commercial awareness with cost control and waste reduction.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Desire to progress your career.

Responsibilities

• Step into a leadership role in the absence of the Kitchen Manager, ensuring smooth operations.
• Ensure all food is prepared, presented and served to brand standards and food safety requirements.
• Work with the Kitchen Manager on menu planning and implementation to drive quality and guest appeal.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organisation and compliance across the kitchen.
• Support stocktakes, ordering and stock control to minimise waste and support profitability.
• Contribute ideas to improve kitchen performance and guest experience.
• Ensure health, safety, hygiene and food safety standards are consistently met.
• Train, motivate and supervise team members to deliver service excellence.

Skills

Sous Chef experience

Kitchen operations

Leadership

Cost control

Communication & teamwork

Proactive hands-on

Work under pressure

Career progression

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 RoleYou'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.

Next steps If you're shortlisted, we'll give you a quick call to learn more about you and answer your questions. Candidates who progress will then be invited to the hotel for an in-person interview. We review applications as they come in, so apply early to avoid missing out. We may close the role once we've found the right person. 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-on approach and willingness to step up when needed.
• 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.