head chef

wagamama; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to £8,000/year

Wagamama food allowance

Private medical insurance

Free food on shift + 50% off

Family-friendly policy (26 weeks full/

Job summary

wagamama is seeking a Head Chef to lead and inspire the kitchen team, delivering exceptional guest experiences and upholding high standards across all dishes.

You will coach, develop and empower your team, drive performance, and manage GP, stock and labour costs while building an inclusive, high-performing culture. This is a full-time role based in London.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and people management experience in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Demonstrated coaching and mentoring to develop teams.
• Strong emotional intelligence and delegation skills.
• Solid understanding of food safety, GP, stock control and labour costs.

Responsibilities

• Inspire your team to go the extra mile for guests and coach for growth.
• Maintain high standards and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Oversee kitchen operations including gross profit, stock and labour costs.
• Recruit, onboard and develop team members for ongoing growth.
• Foster an inclusive environment where colleagues feel respected and valued.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Emotional intelligence

Food safety

Budgeting

Job description

head chef | full time

three whole decades of acting different, we don’t conform, we celebrate difference. appreciating personality over perfection – we call it be you, be wagamama. with over 165 restaurants, we are looking for a head manager to join us on our continuous journey to nourish us all from bowl, to soul

the role |

as a head chef you’ll inspire your team to go the extra mile for our guests, keeping expectations + standards high. you will be continuously coaching + developing your team to be the best they can be whilst driving performance and deliver amazing results

if you |

• prioritise cultivating a positive + inclusive work culture through emotional intelligence, inspiration, and effective delegation. your ability to influence and empower emerging leaders shines through as you provide brilliant training, coaching, and mentorship
• are dedicated to excellence in guest experience, ensuring every dish is prepared to exceptional standards whether through your own efforts or by equipping your team with the necessary skills and mindset
• are experienced in ensuring your kitchen’s food, health and safety standards are spotless, understanding the financial performance of a kitchen including gross profit, stock control + labour costs, spotting opportunities and proactively
• focus on building and nurturing your team, from recruitment to ongoing development, you are committed to fostering personal and professional growth among your team members
• you care about creating an inclusive environment where your team feel respected + that they belong, allowing them to nourish + flourish in their role and career
• a forward-thinking problem solver, able to think on your feet and make quick decisions

we'd love to hear from you

wok’s in it for you |

• bonus scheme – up to £8,000 a year bonus opportunity
• wagamama food allowance
• private medical insurance
• free food on shift – yes anything from our menu! plus 50% outside of work to treat your friends + family
• an industry leading family friendly policy (any expectant person or anyone adopting a child will receive 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay)
• be the first to experience our brand-new menus
• dry-cleaned chef whites provided every shift
• wagamama parties throughout the year with vip guests
• be known nationwide as a wok star – our national recognition programme

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

be you be wagamama

wagamama is proudly part of disability confident