designate senior sous chef

wagamama; Bedford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to £3,000 annual bonus

Tips share

50% off Wagamama outside of work

Free meals on shift

Earned pay access (wagestream)

20+ brand discounts

Job summary

wagamama is seeking a designate senior sous chef to run the pass, lead the team, and drive buzz across our restaurants in the area. You’ll bring leadership, passion and expertise to help kitchens thrive and deliver great food every day.

You’ll grow with us—mentoring chefs, maintaining high standards, and embracing a Kaizen mindset to keep improving. This role offers a strong pathway toward head chef and a dynamic, energetic work environment.

Qualifications

• Currently a kitchen manager or senior sous chef eager to take the next step.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with fresh food.
• Enjoys the energy of a busy service.
• Cares about food, people and creating a safe space.
• Interested in growing into a head chef role.
• Believes kitchens should be full of energy, passion and connection.

Responsibilities

• Run the pass and lead the team during service.
• Mentor chefs and help them grow.
• Maintain high food quality and kitchen vibes.
• Jump into prep and solve problems to keep pace.
• Apply Kaizen mindset to continuously improve processes.

Job description

designate senior sous chef | full time

at wagamama, food is life.

our kitchens are all about fresh food, fast-paced, and full of real people making real food. no microwaves, no shortcuts, just big energy and bigger flavours

as a designate senior sous chef, you'll run the pass, lead the team and bring the buzz across our restaurants in the area. with real responsibility and real impact, you'll bring your leadership, passion and expertise wherever it's needed most, helping our kitchens thrive and delivering great food every day

what you’ll be doing

• creating a place where your team feels safe, seen, and proud to show up
• making sure food quality and kitchen vibes stay sky-high
• mentoring chefs and helping them grow
• jumping into prep, solving problems, and keeping pace
• thinking with a kaizen mindset. constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you’ll love this role if you...

• you’re currently a kitchen manager or senior sous chef eager to take the next step
• thrive working with fresh food
• love the energy of a busy service
• care about food, people and creating a safe space
• want the opportunity to grow into a head chef
• believe kitchens should be full of energy, passion and connection

what you’ll get

• a culture that backs your growth, wellbeing + individuality
• up to £3,000 annual bonus
• a share of tips*
• 50% off wagamama outside of work
• free meals on shift
• early access to earned pay with wagestream
• 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for new parents
• 30% off at our other brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito + more)

in addition to this, we offer benefits such as: pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail + leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships + long service awards

feed yourself, feed others

we’re proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a place at our bench

*100% of tips go to our teams. actual tips by restaurant will vary. tips are left solely at our guests discretion and are not considered as wages by the company nor are they guaranteed in any way