designate head chef

wagamama; Horsham; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Wagamama as a Head Chef, leading a dynamic kitchen team and ensuring the delivery of high-quality dishes. You'll be responsible for motivating your staff and maintaining a vibrant kitchen culture that embraces uniqueness and growth. Attractive benefits include a bonus structure, private healthcare, and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Bonus scheme up to £8,000 a year

Private medical insurance

Dedicated 6-week training programme

Free food allowance on every shift

50% discount at Wagamama and TRG brands

Fully funded apprenticeship programmes

28 days holiday

Wellness access including cycle to work scheme

Financial wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a head chef in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Strong communication skills with team support emphasis.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop kitchen team following Wagamama values.
• Maintain high culinary standards and safety protocols.
• Manage costs effectively in response to operational demands.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Food Safety

Financial Performance

Inclusive Environment

Job description

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Head Chef at Wagamama

As a head chef at Wagamama, you'll lead your kitchen team in the Wagamama way, embodying our people promise, values, and core leadership behaviours. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that every dish served meets our high standards. You’ll look after the development and growth of your team through inspiring leadership, ensuring they are engaged, motivated, and high performing.

Benefits include:

• Bonus scheme | up to £8,000 a year bonus opportunity
• Private medical insurance + pension scheme
• Dedicated 6-week training programme
• Dry-cleaned chef whites provided every shift
• £14 - £25 of free food allowance on every shift
• 50% discount at Wagamama + 30% off all other TRG brands with family and friends
• Internal progression opportunities | fully funded apprenticeship programmes to support your growth
• 28 days holiday
• Kintsugi wellness | access to counsellors, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym + leisure
• Family friendly policy | 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for expectant or adopting parents
• Financial wellbeing support | access to loans repaid through your salary for 'strapped for cash' moments

What we look for

• An experienced head chef capable of leading a kitchen team through positive behaviour and actions to drive performance in a fast-paced + complex environment
• A strong communicator who has real conversations with consideration and care, ensuring your team feels heard and supported
• Experience in maintaining high standards of food, health, and safety
• Understanding of financial performance, including gross profit and stock control
• Ability to manage labour costs and react to changing demands
• Passionate about creating an inclusive environment where your team feels respected and that they belong
• An inspiring leader who engages their team to nourish and flourish in their roles and careers

The Wagamama Way

Kaizen, meaning ‘good change’, is our core philosophy. It influences every dish we create and drives us to find better ways in all we do—our food, our thinking, our work. We are committed to championing change in our communities and on the planet.

With three decades of acting differently, we celebrate difference, valuing personality over perfection. We welcome everyone and their unique stories to our benches. We promise to support you, build trust, and create safe spaces for real conversations with open hearts and minds.

All we ask is for you to dish up what makes you different.