Head Chef

Farmhouse Inns; Monkspath; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Pub discounts

Inns savings

Financial wellbeing

Retail discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Recommend a friend

Job summary

Greene King’s Hillfield Farm in Shirley is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager/Head Chef to lead a large, busy kitchen operation. You’ll drive consistency, manage stock, labour and menu standards, and coach a team to deliver great food at scale.

You’ll work closely with the General Manager and front-of-house to provide a seamless guest experience, ensuring food safety, hygiene and allergen controls while building a positive kitchen culture.

Qualifications

• Experience as Kitchen Manager or Head Chef in high-volume operation.
• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Strong understanding of labour, stock, ordering and waste management.
• Excellent organisational skills and forward planning.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, hygiene and allergen controls.
• Calm, hands-on leader during busy services.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large kitchen operation and deliver high standards.
• Oversee rotas, preparation and resources for busy services.
• Inspire and develop the team; coach and support development.
• Collaborate with GM and front-of-house for guest experience.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene compliance.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Food safety

Allergen controls

Stock management

Labour planning

Job description

• Salary for Advertising: £33,000 - £37,000 + Bonus
• Dept. L4/House: Hillfield Farm (Solihull) - 05674

Company Description

Hillfield Farm, Shirley
Head Chef/Kitchen Manager
Salary - £33,000 - £37,000 + Bonus

Experienced Kitchen Manager? Ready to lead a large, busy food operation and take your kitchen career to the next level?

Welcome to Hillfield Farm, a popular Farmhouse Inns in Shirley, just 13 minutes from Birmingham Airport. We're a family-friendly destination with a real focus on generous portions, great-value food and memorable experiences.

From our famous carvery with seasonal vegetables to all-day breakfasts, hearty pub favourites and indulgent cakes baked in-house, food is at the heart of what we do. With families, local guests, visitors and coach parties joining us, there's always plenty happening in our kitchen.

We're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager / Head Chef who can lead a large food operation, inspire a team and ensure every service delivers the quality and consistency our guests expect.

Job Description

What's the opportunity?

As Kitchen Manager, you'll take ownership of the kitchen, bringing strong leadership, commercial awareness and a passion for great food.

Lead a large kitchen operation: Oversee a busy food service, ensuring the team is organised, prepared and ready to deliver.

Inspire and develop your team: Build a positive kitchen culture, coach your people and support their development.

Deliver exceptional food: Maintain high standards across our carvery, main menu and freshly prepared dishes.

Manage performance: Take responsibility for stock, ordering, labour, waste and kitchen profitability.

Plan for busy services: Ensure rotas, preparation and resources are in place to meet demand, including busy weekends and larger groups.

Maintain food safety standards: Lead on hygiene, allergens, cleanliness and compliance, ensuring the kitchen is always guest‑ready.

Work collaboratively: Partner with the General Manager and front‑of‑house team to deliver a seamless guest experience.

Lead from the front: Be hands‑on, visible and confident in making decisions in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

What we're looking for

This is a role for an established kitchen leader who understands the demands of a high-volume food business.

You'll ideally have experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or in a similar senior kitchen leadership role, with a proven ability to manage a busy operation and get the best from your team.

You'll bring:

Strong experience managing a large or high-volume kitchen.

Proven leadership skills and the ability to develop a team.

A passion for quality food and consistent standards.

Commercial understanding of labour, stock, ordering and waste management.

Excellent organisation and the ability to plan ahead.

A thorough understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen controls.

The confidence to stay calm, focused and hands‑on during busy services.

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

At Greene King, we're committed to helping our people grow, succeed and enjoy what they do.

Career development: Access to training, apprenticeships and opportunities to progress across Greene King.

Pub discounts: Enjoy 33% off at Greene King pubs, plus 15% off for friends and family.

Greene King Inns savings: 50% off for you and 25% off for friends and family.

Financial wellbeing: Access to Wagestream to help you manage your pay.

Extra perks: Retail discounts, family‑friendly benefits and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Recommend a friend: Earn up to £1,500 when you introduce someone to Greene King.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

Ready to lead Hillfield Farm's kitchen?

If you're an experienced kitchen leader who thrives in a busy environment, knows how to bring a team together and takes pride in delivering great food at scale, we'd love to hear from you.

Lead with passion. Deliver with pride. Make Hillfield Farm's kitchen your next success!