Head Chef

ROVI by Ottolenghi; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days leave

Staff meals on shift

HSF healthcare plan

Refer a Friend £500

Leadership development & training

Birthday treat

Workshops & demos

Job summary

ROVI by Ottolenghi is seeking a senior kitchen leader to drive excellence in a high-volume, quality-led restaurant on Wells Street. You will lead, mentor and develop a team, ensuring exceptional food presentation and consistent standards in a fast-paced environment.

You will champion Ottolenghi's coal cooking style, design seasonal menus with the Executive Development Chef, control costs, maintain hygiene, and build an inclusive, collaborative kitchen culture that motivates staff and delivers

Qualifications

• Senior kitchen experience in a high-volume, quality-led restaurant (min 2 years).
• Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Creativity, curiosity, and love for fresh, seasonal cooking.
• Leads with empathy, professionalism, and a hands-on approach.
• Passion for nurturing talent and building an inclusive kitchen culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to achieve high standards in a supportive, dynamic environment.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring excellence in quality, consistency, and food presentation.
• Champion Ottolenghi's style of cooking, focusing on coal cooking, bold flavours, and seasonal ingredients.
• Collaborate with the Executive Development Chef to design seasonal menus aligned with the Ottolenghi ethos.
• Manage food costs, ordering, and stock control efficiently and sustainably.
• Maintain exceptional food hygiene and safety standards across the kitchen.
• Manage labour controls, scheduling, and kitchen operations to meet financial targets.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop junior chefs, fostering growth and creativity.
• Create a positive, respectful kitchen culture where teamwork, learning, and accountability are valued.
• Work with General Manager and front-of-house to ensure a seamless guest experience.

Skills

Culinary skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Operations management

Calm under pressure

Kitchen IT systems

Ottolenghi ethos

Job description

At Ottolenghi, we're known for vibrant food, busy delis, and restaurants full of energy - but what really matters is our people. We create environments where teams feel supported, take pride in what they do, and deliver a genuinely warm experience to every guest.

ROVI is Ottolenghi's flagship restaurant on Wells Street, celebrating vegetables and live-fire cooking in a way that is entirely our own. Since opening in 2019, ROVI has established itself as one of London's most exciting and progressive dining destinations.

What you'll do

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to achieve high standards in a supportive, dynamic environment.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring excellence in quality, consistency, and food presentation.
• Champion Ottolenghi's style of cooking, with a focus on coal cooking, bold flavours, and seasonal ingredients.
• Work closely with the Executive Development Chef to design and develop seasonal menus aligned with the Ottolenghi ethos.
• Manage food costs, ordering, and stock control efficiently and sustainably.
• Maintain exceptional food hygiene and safety standards across the kitchen.
• Manage labour controls, scheduling, and kitchen operations to maintain high standards while meeting financial targets.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop junior chefs, fostering growth and creativity.
• Create a positive, respectful kitchen culture where teamwork, learning, and accountability are valued.
• Work closely with the General Manager and front-of-house team to ensure a seamless, memorable guest experience.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in a senior kitchen role, ideally as Head Chef or Senior Sous in a high-volume, quality-led restaurant, minimum of 2 years.
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Creativity, curiosity, and a genuine love for fresh, seasonal cooking.
• A leader who leads with empathy, professionalism, and a hands-on approach.
• A genuine passion for nurturing talent and building a strong, inclusive kitchen culture.

Key skills

• Exceptional culinary skills with a strong understanding of flavour, technique, and seasonality.
• Confident leadership with the ability to inspire and develop a team.
• Strong commercial understanding with proven experience running a kitchen efficiently and profitably.
• Excellent organisational skills across stock, labour, and operations.
• Calm under pressure with a solutions-focused and collaborative mindset.
• Comfortable with relevant kitchen management and IT systems.
• A genuine passion for food, people, and the Ottolenghi ethos.

What's in it for you?

• 33 days annual leave per year, inclusive of bank holidays.
• Delicious Ottolenghi staff meals on shift and generous staff discount.
• Health and well-being support through our HSF healthcare plan (covering dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more), plus a 24/7 GP helpline and access to Perkbox discounts.
• Refer a Friend Bonus: £500 for each successful referral.
• Learning & Development opportunities including management coaching, WSET wine training, Ottolenghi Chef's Academy workshops, and access to external courses.
• A warm, inclusive working culture where individuality, growth, and creativity are celebrated.
• Enhanced Parental Pay after two years' service.
• A special birthday treat to celebrate your day.
• Exclusive workshops and demos, including cooking, food, wine, and cocktail sessions in the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen.
• A collaborative and creative environment where your ideas are valued.

If you care about great food, great people, and doing things properly, we'd love to hear from you.