Head Chef

KIBOU Restaurants; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personalised training

Transparent service charge policy

Employee discounts

Free meals on shift

Wellness support

Pension via Salary Exchange

Awards recognition 2025/2026

Job summary

KIBOU Restaurants Ltd in Cambridge is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager to lead day-to-day kitchen operations and a skilled team. You will drive food quality, staff morale and a premium guest dining experience across our Japanese menu and dedicated sushi kitchen.

You will influence menu development, recruit and develop chefs, manage labour costs and food margins, and help grow our growing family of restaurants while ensuring safety and compliance at all times.

Qualifications

• Experience in Japanese cuisine preferred but not essential.
• Ability to recruit, train and develop effective and passionate teams.
• Proven track record of delivering sales growth through consistent food quality and service.
• Effective labour cost management.
• Track record of delivering budgeted food margins.
• Flare for creative and authentic menu development.
• Experience in running large teams of chefs.
• Ensure legal compliance and health & safety are managed as required.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day running of kitchen operations and the team.
• Lead the kitchen team from the front to deliver a fun, authentic dining experience aligned with core values.
• Opportunity to work on menu development and growing our offering.

Skills

Team leadership

Recruitment

Staff development

Food quality

Labour cost management

Menu development

Large team management

Health & safety compliance

Job description

KIBOU is an independent Japanese restaurant and bar with restaurants in Birmingham, Battersea, Cheltenham, Bristol, Solihull, Oxford and Cambridge.

Our kitchens deliver a diverse menu showcasing a variety of Japanese cuisine, all handmade or hand‑rolled fresh in the kitchen daily and our stringent sourcing policy ensures that we only ever use the freshest, best quality and most authentic ingredients, so our guests can enjoy a premium dining experience with each visit.

Each KIBOU has a dedicated sushi kitchen offering an extensive selection of handmade‑to‑order sushi and sashimi.

Your role will be to manage the day‑to‑day running of the kitchen operations and the team, with motivation and commitment to deliver outstanding service. To lead the kitchen team from the front to create a fun, authentic and original dining experience that will support our core values.

At KIBOU, we're looking for incredible individuals to come on a journey with us, helping to grow our small family of restaurants whilst delivering exceptional food and service to all of our guests. Being part of a small growing business, you'll have the opportunity to work on menu development, bringing your own ideas to the table and helping us grow our offering.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills we need:

• Experience in Japanese cuisine preferred but not essential
• Ability to recruit, train and develop effective and passionate teams
• Proven track record of delivering sales growth through consistent food quality and service
• Effective labour cost management
• Track record of delivering budgeted food margins
• Flare for creative and authentic menu development
• Experience in running large teams of chefs
• Ensure legal compliance and health & safety are managed as required

KIBOU are a considerate and respectful employer, and we place team wellbeing at the heart of our operation.

We love our people and are thrilled to be growing our team!

Why work with us :

• A business with our people at its core, valuing individuals as much as the team
• A restaurant‑led organisation that champions operational autonomy and the freedom to thrive, with opportunities to shape how the business evolves and grows.
• Personalised training programmes and development opportunities tailored to you
• 100% equal and transparent service charge policy
• Japanese culture & cuisine 101. Get to know Japanese food!
• Regular socials, including the annual KIBOU awards show and summer party
• Employee discounts when you dine in any of our restaurants
• Free meals cooked by your chefs, or generously discounted menu items on shift
• Professional confidential support with the wellness programme, Licensed Trade Charity
• Financial well‑being with Hastee
• Enhanced Pension provision through Salary Exchange
• Recognised as being one of the Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2025 and 2026, by The Caterer