Head Chef

The Lowry; Salford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary theatre tickets

Free parking nearby

Birthday day off

Staff discounts

Wellbeing hub access

Group life assurance

Job summary

The Lowry in Salford seeks a Head Chef to support the Executive Head Chef in leading the day-to-day kitchen operation. This hands-on role delivers high standards across all services, from restaurant dining to large events, while keeping quality and customer experience at the center of every service.

You will drive food preparation, maintain recipes and portion standards, contribute to seasonal menus, and collaborate with front-of-house teams to ensure practical, commercially sound menus for

Qualifications

• Hands-on leadership role in day-to-day kitchen operations.
• Maintaining recipes, presentation and portion standards; contributing to seasonal menus.
• Coach colleagues, support recruitment and induction, contribute to rotas.

Responsibilities

• Lead food preparation and service across hospitality offer.
• Maintain quality, pace and customer experience across services.
• Ensure food safety, allergens, stock, waste and food cost controls.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Food preparation

Team coaching

Job description

Head Chef, Permanent 45hpw (including bank holidays and weekends), £40,000 per annum, plus staff benefits

Lowry is an internationally acclaimed cultural landmark at the heart of MediaCity, with a varied hospitality operation spanning restaurant dining, bar food, conferences, banqueting, private dining and large‑scale events.

We are looking for a Head Chef to support the Executive Head Chef in leading our day‑to‑day kitchen operation. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who can deliver consistently high standards across different styles of service, respond confidently to changing operational demands and keep quality, pace and customer experience at the centre of every service.

You will lead food preparation and service across our hospitality offer, maintaining agreed recipes, presentation and portion standards while contributing to seasonal menus, promotional dishes and special events. Working closely with front‑of‑house teams and colleagues across Lowry, you will help ensure menus are practical to deliver, commercially sound and relevant to our audiences.

An important part of the role is developing a skilled, motivated and professional kitchen team. You will coach colleagues, support recruitment and induction, contribute to effective rotas and promote a positive culture built on clear standards, accountability and teamwork. You will also maintain strong controls around food safety, allergens, stock, waste and food cost, and deputise for the Executive Head Chef when required.

If you are an experienced kitchen leader with strong operational judgement, sound commercial awareness and the ability to bring out the best in a team, this role offers the opportunity to shape food delivery across one of Greater Manchester's leading cultural venues.

The role has a number of staff benefits including:

• Complimentary and discounted theatre and live event tickets.
• Free car parking just a few minutes' walk from the Lowry building.
• Paid day off for your birthday.
• Discounts at the bars, restaurant and gift shop located within the Lowry building.
• Access to Lowry's Wellbeing Hub and to other health and wellbeing services, including counselling, physiotherapy and remote GP appointments.
• Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Please note that MediaCityUK is a well‑connected destination with a variety of different transport options - bus, car, tram and bike.

The application deadline for this vacancy is 13th October 2026.

Interviews will be on 26th October 2026, please ensure your availability for this date

Lowry is committed to creating an inclusive workforce by reflecting and representing the diversity of Salford and the UK. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of Lowry - whether that is to work in our creative or support roles. We particularly encourage applications from the following two people groups who are currently under‑represented in our work force and in the wider performing and visual arts sector; those people who experience racism and marginalisation, including those from African, Caribbean, North African, LatinX, South Asian, East Asian and South East Asian heritage and their diasporas, those who are disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent or have long‑term health conditions.