Designate Head Chef - Witney/Oxford

Harri; Witney; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly bonus

Tronc

50% off food & drink

25% for friends & family

Fully funded apprenticeships

Employee Assistance Programme

Wages before payday

Discounted gym memberships

Job summary

Bella Italia in the United Kingdom is seeking a Designate Head Chef to lead a talented kitchen team across locations, ensuring every dish is prepared to the highest standard and the guest experience remains exceptional.

You will work closely with the management team, adapt to different sites, and foster a supportive, high-energy kitchen culture while maintaining strong hygiene and financial performance. A 45-hour contract with quarterly bonus and additional perks awaits.

Qualifications

• Passion for food and hospitality.
• Experience leading a kitchen team.
• Willingness to work across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring high-quality dishes.
• Maintain cleanliness and kitchen hygiene at the highest standards.
• Develop and motivate a strong, collaborative team.
• Analyse profitability metrics to drive efficiency and cost control.

Job description

At Bella Italia, we believe that the best moments in life are spent with loved ones sharing food, friendship, laughter, and the joy of the Italian table. If you have a passion for pizza, pasta, and leading a fantastic team, then this is the job for you! Come and be part of the Bella Italia family as aDesignate Head Chef.

Why Join Bella?

We know that happy teams create the best experiences, so we offer:

• Competitive Package - 45-hour contract, quarterly bonus and opportunity to earn Tronc.
• Amazing Discounts - 50% off food and drink across all Big Table Group brands and 25% for friends & family.
• Career Growth - Fully funded apprenticeships in Hospitality Management (Level 4).
• Wellbeing & Support - Our Employee Assistance Programme includes a 24/7 virtual GP, mental health support, a second medical opinion service, and more.
• Perks & Rewards - Access to wages before payday, discounted gym memberships, and savings on theme parks, shopping, and more!
• Team Competitions & Events - Win a trip to Italy, team parties, and even a chance to win e-points to spend on your favourite retailers.

What You’ll Do as a Designate Head Chef:

• Work closely with the management team to achieve restaurant goals.
• Adaptable and flexible, happy to work across different locations based on business needs
• Lead the guest experience by ensuring every dish is cooked to perfection.
• Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and kitchen hygiene.
• Create a fun, motivating team environment, with a focus on developing and nurturing talent.
• Be commercially minded analysing profit & loss accounts to make strong financial decisions and drive efficiency.

Who We’re Looking For:

If you’ve got a real passion for food, enjoy bringing people together, and thrive in the fast-paced, guest-first environment, you might just be the perfect fit for us.

At Bella Italia, our teams are like family. We put people at the heart of everything we do, creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where you can be yourself, feel supported, and grow your career. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, just let us know – we’ve got you.

Thinking about using AI tools for your application? They can be great for getting started, but what really makes an application shine is you, your energy, experience, personality, and leadership style.

What’s the process?

Application → CV review → friendly phone chat → first-stage interview → second-stage interview → offer and onboarding

At Bella Italia, we don’t just look for experience – we look for people with a genuine love for hospitality who care about their teams and our guests. If that sounds like you, we’d love to welcome you to the family.

Join the Bella Italia family today and work somewhere awesome! Don’t just take our word for it we’re proud to be named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.