head chef

wagamama; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to £8,000

Monthly dining allowance £200

Private medical insurance

50% off wagamama meals

Free meals on shift

Early access to earned pay (Wagestream

Parental leave: 26 weeks full pay + 13

Discounts across Brunning & Price pubs

Job summary

wagamama ltd in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen with energy and care. You’ll run service, mentor your team, and ensure every bowl reflects pride in fresh food.

This full-time role offers a fast-paced culture, hands-on leadership, and the chance to drive quality from prep to plate while supporting staff growth and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Previous head chef experience in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Ability to maintain high-quality outputs under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Creating a safe, inclusive team environment where the kitchen staff feel seen and proud to show up.
• Maintain sky-high quality for every bowl, every time.
• Coach and develop the team to grow confidence and skill.
• Stay calm under pressure and respond quickly to service needs.
• Make the kitchen a place people want to work and guests can taste the pride.
• Constantly identify small improvements and implement them Kaizen-style.

Job description

head chef | full time

at wagamama, food is life. our kitchens are all about fresh food, fast-paced, and full of real people making real food. no microwaves, no shortcuts, just big energy and bigger flavours. as head chef, you’ll run the kitchen like it’s your own. lead the team, smash service, and make sure every bowl is something to be proud of

what you’ll be doing

• creating a place where your team feels safe, seen, and proud to show up
• keeping quality sky-high. every bowl, every time
• coaching your team to grow in confidence and skill
• staying cool under pressure and being fast on your feet
• making your kitchen a place where people want to work and guests can taste the pride
• thinking with a kaizen mindset. constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you’ll love this role if you...

• are ready to learn, lead + level up
• thrive in a fresh kitchen with no microwaves
• take real pride in your food and your team
• want to push for better. from prep to bowl
• believe kitchens should be places of connection, creativity + good vibes

what you’ll get

• a culture that supports your growth, wellbeing + individuality
• up to £8,000 annual bonus
• £200 a month to spend at wagamama outside of work
• private medical insurance
• 50% off wagamama outside of work
• free meals on shift
• fresh dry-cleaned chef whites, every shift
• early access to earned pay with wagestream
• 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for new parents
• first access to our new menus
• 30% off at our other brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito + more)

in addition to this, we offer benefits such as: pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail + leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships + long service awards

feed yourself, feed others

we’re proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a seat at our bench