head chef

wagamama ltd; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to £8,000

Private medical insurance

50% off wagamama outside of work

Free meals on shift

Earned wage access

Fresh chef whites

29 days holiday

Job summary

wagamama is seeking a Head Chef in a full-time role to run the kitchen with energy and pride. You’ll lead the team, smash busy service, and ensure every bowl meets high standards. This position emphasizes vision, speed, and a hands-on approach to quality and culture.

As head chef you’ll coach staff, stay calm under pressure, and push for continuous improvement across prep and plating, aligning with wagamama’s fast-paced, no-microwaves ethos.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team.
• Strong focus on quality and consistency.
• Ability to coach and develop staff.

Responsibilities

• Run the kitchen like it’s your own and lead the team.
• Smash service and ensure every bowl is top quality.
• Coach the team to grow in confidence and skill.
• Stay calm under pressure and move fast when needed.
• Create a welcoming, energetic kitchen environment.
• Identify small improvements and implement them.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Quality control

Kaizen mindset

Job description

head chef | full time

£56,000pa ote | formed of £48,000 base salary + £8000 bonus

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

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

feed yourself, feed others