Head Chef

Platinum Recruitment Consultancy Ltd; Seasalter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly service charge

Permanent full-time position

Menu ownership and kitchen leadership

Job summary

Platinum Recruitment Consultancy is seeking a Head Chef near Canterbury to lead the kitchen across dining, weddings and private events in a 20-bedroom hotel. You will plan menus, staffing and purchasing for seasonal peaks, maintaining exceptional food quality and guest satisfaction.

The role offers a stable, permanent full-time position with ownership of menus and kitchen standards, in a boutique hotel setting near Canterbury.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a fresh-food kitchen in a hotel, restaurant or event-led venue.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen brigade
• Create seasonal menus using local produce
• Maintain high food quality, presentation and consistency
• Oversee food delivery for restaurant, weddings and events
• Plan staffing and purchasing around seasonal demand
• Manage food costs, gross profit, labour and budgets
• Recruit, train and retain kitchen team members
• Maintain HACCP and allergen standards
• Implement efficient kitchen procedures
• Work with owners and operations team
• Drive guest satisfaction and strengthen the venue's reputation

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Cost control

Team development

Food safety & HACCP

Job description

Head Chef - earn £45,000-£50,000 plus £300-£400 monthly service charge at a boutique hotel near Canterbury.

Are you an experienced kitchen leader ready to take ownership of a varied food operation? This Head Chef opportunity near Canterbury covers a 20-bedroom, seasonal and event-led business offering restaurant dining, breakfast, afternoon tea, weddings and private celebrations.

What's in it for you?

• £45,000-£50,000 salary, depending on experience
• Approximately £300-£400 service charge per month
• Total annual package worth approximately £48,600-£54,800
• Permanent, full-time position
• Genuine ownership of menus and kitchen standards
• The opportunity to shape the future direction of the food offering
• Fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers
• A varied operation covering dining, weddings and private events
• A beautiful coastal countryside setting near Canterbury
• The opportunity to recruit, develop and lead your own brigade
• A senior position within an ambitious independent hospitality business

Your new role

As Head Chef, you'll take responsibility for the complete culinary operation. Based near Canterbury, you'll lead the 20-bedroom hotel kitchen across daily dining, resident breakfasts, Sunday lunch, afternoon tea, weddings and private functions.

The business is highly seasonal and event-led, so you'll need to plan menus, staffing and purchasing effectively around changing demand and busy periods.

You will

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen brigade
• Create seasonal menus using quality local produce
• Maintain excellent food quality, presentation and consistency
• Oversee restaurant, wedding and event food delivery
• Plan staffing and preparation around seasonal business levels
• Manage food costs, gross profit, labour and kitchen budgets
• Control ordering, stock rotation, wastage and supplier relationships
• Recruit, train and retain kitchen team members
• Maintain excellent food safety, HACCP and allergen standards
• Introduce effective systems and kitchen procedures
• Work closely with the owners and operational team
• Drive guest satisfaction and strengthen the venue's food reputation

What we're looking for

The successful Head Chef will have proven experience leading a fresh-food kitchen within a quality hotel, restaurant or event-led venue.

You’ll also need

• Strong seasonal menu-development skills
• Experience delivering restaurant dining, weddings and large events
• Excellent commercial awareness and cost-control knowledge
• Confidence managing food GP, labour and stock
• Experience planning around seasonal peaks and quieter periods
• A hands-on and visible leadership style
• Strong recruitment, training and team-development experience
• Excellent food-safety and allergen knowledge
• Creativity balanced with consistency and commercial discipline
• The ability to remain organised during busy services and events
• The existing right to work in the UK

Experienced Senior Sous Chefs who are ready to take full responsibility for a varied kitchen operation are also encouraged to apply.

Job Number: 49293 / INDCHEFS