Head Chef

greene king; Benfleet; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33% discount on all brands

Pension contribution

Employee assistance program

Enhanced maternity/paternity policies

Menopause Friendly Employer

Refer a friend bonus up to £1,500

Wagestream access

Retail discounts up to 30%

Job summary

Greene King pubs are seeking a Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen, inspiring the team to deliver high‑quality dishes. You’ll drive consistency, manage service during peak periods and ensure every plate meets our standards.

You’ll have strong leadership, excellent communication, and food safety knowledge, with a passion for developing your team and creating a welcoming dining experience for our customers.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a busy kitchen and developing a high-performing team.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen.
• Strong focus on delivering tasty and well-presented meals.
• Sufficient spoken and written English to perform role safely.

Responsibilities

• Take the reins in the kitchen and guide the team to run smoothly.
• Communicate clearly to provide high-quality meals on time.
• Recognise and lead the team to maximise potential.
• Maintain hygiene and safety regulations in the kitchen.

Skills

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Working under pressure

English proficiency

Job description

As a Head Chef, you’ll make sure everything in the kitchen runs smoothly during a busy service. You’ll know how to get the best out of your team by encouraging and supporting them to work well together, ensuring every dish served is of the highest standards.

Company Description

Join us at Greene King pubs, where we have always been the beacon for communities, wherever people want to come together. Our collection of community pubs are the heart and soul of the local area around them, helmed by a local hero and crewed by a team always ready with your favourite tipple. Our pubs embody the true meaning of a local pub, acting as a central hub where locals can enjoy one of our events, a feast of lovingly cooked food or a quick catch up with friends over a drink.

Additional Information

We’re all about rewarding our team’s hard work, that’s why…

You’ll receive a competitive salary, pension contribution as well as:

• The chance to further your career across our well-known brands – as one of the industry's top apprenticeship providers, we can provide training and development at each level of your career.
• Discount of 33% for you and 15% for your loved ones on all of our brands – so you enjoy your favourite food and drink at a discount.
• Free employee assistance program – mental health, well-being, financial, and legal support because you matter!
• Enhanced, family-friendly maternity and paternity policies
• Menopause Friendly Employer
• Discount of 50% for you and 25% for your loved ones at our Greene King Inns and hotels – so you can enjoy a weekend away without breaking the bank.
• Refer a friend – who do you know who could be interested in a new role? When they are placed, you could earn up to £1,500 for referring them!
• Wagestream – access your wage before payday for when life happens.
• Retail discounts – Receive up to 30% off at Superdrug, exclusive discounts with Three Mobile along with many more…

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

Qualifications

As a Head Chef, you will…

• Take the reins in the kitchen, whether you are making decisions or coming up with fresh ways to help the team run better together.
• Communicate clearly with your team in order to provide high-quality meals to customers on time.
• Recognise and lead the team as a whole, understanding how to maximise their potential.
• Maintain hygiene levels and safety regulations in the kitchen to help to guarantee the care of your entire team and visitors.

What you’ll bring to the kitchen:

• Experience managing a busy kitchen, training and developing a high performing team who constantly exceed targets.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen and getting the best out of your team around you.
• A keen eye for delivering tasty and well-presented meals to customers each and every time.
• Skill and willingness to take on and adapt to challenges whilst working in a busy kitchen.
• Sufficient spoken and written English to perform the role safely and understand allergen controls.