Deputy Kitchen Team Leader

Individual Restaurants; Worcester Park Estate; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% off food and drink

Enhanced maternity/paternity

Stream financial wellbeing tools

Employee Assistance Programme

Career development

Pension

Team meals on shift

Discounts at Iceland Foods

Healthcare cash plan

Fundraising & charity events

Retailer discounts

Refer a friend £500

Job summary

Individual Restaurants is recruiting for a Deputy Kitchen Leader to support the Kitchen Lead in delivering outstanding food quality and high standards as part of a fast-paced restaurant opening at Bluewater, Kent. You will lead by example, coach the team and ensure a memorable guest experience across shifts.

You will help manage the kitchen in the Kitchen Lead's absence, drive food safety compliance and contribute to a positive, high-performing kitchen culture within a growing brand.

Qualifications

• Lead kitchen services in Kitchen Lead's absence
• Coach, motivate and develop kitchen team members
• Ensure food quality, consistency and presentation standards
• Drive compliance with food safety, health & safety and company procedures
• Support stock management, ordering and waste control
• Lead by example during busy services with pace and organisation
• Work with management to deliver an exceptional guest experience
• Help build a positive, high-performing kitchen culture

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operations in the absence of the Kitchen Lead
• Coach and develop kitchen staff to reach their potential
• Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation and consistency
• Ensure compliance with food safety, HACCP, health and safety policies
• Assist with stock control, ordering and waste management
• Model efficiency and calm under busy service periods
• Collaborate with the wider hospitality team to enhance guest experience
• Foster a supportive and high-performing kitchen culture

Job description

As a Deputy Kitchen Lead, you'll work closely with the Kitchen Lead to ensure outstanding food quality, exceptional standards, and a motivated, high-performing kitchen team. You'll lead by example, support the development of your colleagues, and play a key role in delivering a successful service, every shift.

As a Deputy Kitchen Team Leader, you will:

• Support the day to day management of the kitchen and lead services in the Kitchen Lead's absence
• Coach, motivate and develop kitchen team members to achieve their potential
• Ensure food quality, consistency and presentation standards are delivered at all times
• Drive compliance with food safety, health & safety and company procedures
• Support stock management, ordering and waste control
• Lead by example during busy services, maintaining pace, organisation and attention to detail
• Work collaboratively with the wider management team to deliver an exceptional guest experience
• Help build a positive, supportive and high-performing kitchen culture

When you join Individual Restaurants, you're not just joining one team. You're joining a collection of industry-leading restaurants, all with a stellar reputation for quality service and exceptional food. Explore roles across our collection of 30+ restaurants, including Piccolino, Restaurant Bar & Grill and Riva., Join Forbici Bluewater, Kent

A New Era of Pizza

Are you a passionate kitchen leader who thrives in a fast paced environment? Ready to take the next step in your career and help shape a brand-new opening?

We're bringing Forbici to Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent, and we're looking for a Deputy Kitchen Leader (Sous Chef) to help drive standards, support the team, and deliver exceptional food every day.

At Forbici, biga fermentation sits at the heart of what we do. Time, discipline and attention to detail shape every dough we make and every pizza we serve. Inspired by Naples, driven by craft, and shaped by the cities we call home, this is pizza done properly.

Our people make Forbici, and we're proud to be recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2024, 2025 & 2026, reflecting the culture we're building and the talented teams behind it.

• Full in-house training through our bespoke RISE platform
• 50% off your food and drink bill at any of our restaurants, anytime, for up to 8 people
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity packages
• Access to up to 40% of earned wages and financial wellbeing tools via Stream
• Employee Assistance Programme via The Drinks Trust (24/7 support and counselling)
• Career development through our high performers programme
• Employer pension contribution
• Team meals on shift
• 15% off your grocery bill at Iceland Foods
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Opportunities to get involved in fundraising and charity events
• Discounts and cashback across hundreds of retailers
• Refer a friend scheme, earn up to £500

This is your chance to be part of Forbici's exciting Bluewater opening, helping build a…

Join the team. Lead by example. Raise the standard, every shift.