Head Chef

KSB Recruitment; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Service charge included

Paid overtime

40-hour week

Historic hotel setting

Cambridge city centre location

Job summary

KSB Recruitment is seeking an experienced Head Chef for a luxury hotel in Cambridge. You will lead a 66-cover restaurant kitchen, take ownership of the menu, and shape the dining offering with a hands-on leadership style.

You will oversee service, food quality, costs, HACCP compliance, and team development, reporting to the General Manager. A creative, commercially minded chef is essential for a growing operation in the historic city centre.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or senior Sous Chef ready to advance.
• Strong cooking skills with fresh ingredients.
• Experience developing menus and introducing new dishes.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a kitchen team.
• Knowledge of food safety, HACCP and allergen requirements.

Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for day-to-day kitchen operations and service delivery.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team to a high standard.
• Develop and evolve the restaurant menu with seasonal dishes.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation and prep.
• Manage ordering, suppliers, stock control and kitchen purchasing.
• Monitor food costs and gross profit to meet targets.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene, HACCP and allergen compliance.
• Keep kitchen documentation and compliance systems up to date.
• Schedule kitchen rotas and staffing for services.
• Train junior chefs and promote consistency across the team.
• Collaborate with the General Manager to improve processes.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

HACCP & allergen knowledge

Team development

Service leadership

Job description

Head Chef

Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Salary: £44,000–£47,600 per annum (inclusive of service charge) + paid overtime
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time (40 hours per week)

Role

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to join the team at a Luxury Hotel in Cambridge. This is a hands‑on leadership role taking full responsibility for the day‑to‑day running and continued development of the hotel's 66‑cover restaurant kitchen.

The restaurant offers a relaxed, informal dining experience, with a fresh, seasonal and internationally influenced menu. Following a successful evolution of the food offering, the business is looking for a Head Chef who can bring creativity, consistency and strong kitchen leadership to the operation.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of the kitchen, develop the menu, introduce new dishes and build a motivated, reliable team. Working closely with the General Manager, you will oversee all aspects of the kitchen operation, from service and food quality through to ordering, stock control, food costs and compliance.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a creative and commercially minded Head Chef who enjoys being hands‑on and wants the freedom to put their own stamp on a growing restaurant operation.

Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for the day‑to‑day running of the kitchen and delivery of food service.

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive and professional working environment.

• Develop and evolve the restaurant menu, introducing creative dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients.

• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and preparation.

• Manage ordering, suppliers, stock control and kitchen purchasing.

• Monitor food costs, portion control and gross profit to ensure commercial targets are achieved.

• Oversee food safety, hygiene, HACCP and allergen compliance.

• Ensure all kitchen documentation and digital compliance systems are maintained accurately.

• Manage kitchen rotas and ensure appropriate staffing levels across services.

• Train and support junior chefs, encouraging development and consistency across the team.

• Work closely with the General Manager to improve kitchen processes and the overall restaurant operation.

• Take a hands‑on approach during service, leading from the front and maintaining standards during busy periods.

Requirements

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or an established Sous Chef ready to take the next step.

• Strong professional cooking skills and experience working with fresh ingredients.

• Experience developing menus and introducing new dishes.

• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a kitchen team.

• Good commercial understanding, including food costing, stock control and ordering.

• Knowledge of food safety, HACCP and allergen requirements.

• Strong organisational and communication skills.

• A hands‑on approach with the ability to lead service and remain calm under pressure.

• Comfortable using digital systems for kitchen administration and compliance.

• A creative approach to food, with an interest in seasonal and internationally influenced menus.

• A professional, approachable and respectful leadership style.

• A genuine desire to build a stable team and make a long‑term commitment.

Rewards

• £38,000 basic annual salary plus service charge, bringing the package to approximately £44,000–£47,600 per annum.

• Additional paid overtime.

• Permanent, full‑time position with 40 contracted hours per week.

• Average monthly service charge of £500–£800.

• Opportunity to take creative ownership of the restaurant menu.

• Freedom to introduce new dishes and influence the direction of the food offering.

• Opportunity to lead and develop the kitchen team.

• A varied role within a distinctive historic hotel in Cambridge city centre.

• Supportive working relationship with the General Manager.

• Opportunity to make a genuine impact on a growing restaurant operation.

If you're an experienced Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef looking for an opportunity to take ownership of a kitchen, bring your creativity to the menu and lead a team in a growing restaurant, we'd love to hear from you.