Head Chef

Wahaca; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

70% off food

50% off drinks

£100 probation celebration

Up to £1,000 referral bonus

Quarterly bonus

Enhanced family leave

Early wage access

Cycle to work

Mental Health support

Sabbatical - 4 weeks after 5 years

Training courses (Food Safety LV3)

Team events and trips

Job summary

Wahaca, the leading Mexican restaurant group in the UK, is seeking an inspiring Head Chef in Edinburgh to translate our food philosophy into every plate. You will lead the kitchen, uphold high standards, and cultivate a culture of pride and accountability while delivering WOW-worthy experiences to guests.

You will manage a diverse team, drive continuous improvement, and ensure seasonal, chef-made dishes are executed to spec with strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and local sourcing.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a busy commercial kitchen.
• Passion for delivering high-quality Mexican-inspired dishes.
• Strong people development and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Work with General Manager to uphold top food safety standards.
• Lead and develop a strong kitchen team including sous, section chefs, prep, and assistants.
• Inspire and guide the team by leading from the front and supporting guests' dining experience.
• Foster a positive environment; support growth and progression of team members.
• Ensure recipes are followed and stock is accurately managed and ordered.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Food safety

People development

Job description

Our story:

Wahaca is a leading Mexican restaurant in the UK, founded by Thomasina Miers (MasterChef winner) and Mark Selby. Inspired by their time in Mexico, their mission is to show the UK how vibrant and delicious Mexican food is, championing great British produce and sourcing ingredients locally.

Rooted in our founders' values, we serve a taste of Mexican sunshine throughshowing pride, staying humble,choosingintegrity, having fun, and thinking positively. With an upbeat atmosphere and chef made dishes, we believe every meal should be an adventure and every guest a friend.

As Head Chef, you bring our food philosophy to life on every plate, setting the tone in the kitchen and building a culture of pride and accountability. We're looking for a hospitality leader who will play a pivotal role in driving our brand standards forward and inspiring their team to deliver a WOW-worthy experience for every guest.

Howyou'lldrive success:

• Work alongside your General Manager to maintain the highest food safety standards
• Lead, manage and develop a strong kitchen team including Sous Chef, section chefs, prep chefs and kitchen assistants
• Inspire and guide your team by leading from the front, always ready to step in and support, ensuring all guests are served up a taste of Mexican sunshine
• Champion a positive environment and deeply care about your team, supporting their growth and progression
• A passion for fresh food - our dishes are made from scratch using seasonal ingredients, and you'll ensure our chefs are fully trained to follow recipes and maintain the highest standards
• Take ownership for stock control and ordering and confidently manage systems that support daily operations

People do their best work when they feel looked after inside and outside of work -because when our teams thrive, so do our guests. Creating a supportive, inclusive and energising environment is just as important to us as delivering great food and service. That's why we offer a range of great benefits:

FINANCIAL:

• 70% off foodand 50% off drinkswhen dining atWahacawith up to 3 friends

• £100 to celebrate your probationinWahaca

• Up to £1,000 through friend referrals

• Quarterly bonus scheme

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption pay

• Early accessto wages, financialsupportand discounts through Stream

HEALTH AND WELLBEING:

• Free, nutritious meal every time you work, freshlymadeby ourtalentedchefs

• Cycle to work scheme

• Support from our trained Mental Health First Aiders

• Time off for when needed; like your child's first day at school

• Sabbatical -4weeks paid off work- every 5 years

DEVELOPMENT:

• Training courses: Mental Health First Aid, Food Safety LV 3

• Inspirational trips with our co-founders

• Own development plan- we are committed to growing our people from within

SOCIAL:

• Unwind and turn up the fun at one of our many eventsacross the yearsuch as WOW Fest!

• OurveryownMasterchefand Cocktail competitions

• The fun is in your hands withallocatedfunds and time to drive the fun with your team

Ifyou'reinspired by whatyou'veread and have a passion for delivering exceptional hospitality,we'dbe thrilled to have you join our team!

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