Head Chef

Daniel Thwaites PLC; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known hospitality company in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen team. The role requires ensuring high standards of food preparation, compliance with food safety regulations, and collaboration with staff. Candidates should have proven leadership skills and experience in menu development. A competitive salary and various employee benefits are provided, along with opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Wagestream access

28 days annual leave

Health cash plan

Generous employee discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Apprenticeships available

Life assurance

Bespoke training programmes

Qualifications

• Proven track record as Head Chef or similar role in a busy kitchen.
• Ability to design and manage rotas efficiently.
• Experience in delivering technical training and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team in food preparation and service.
• Ensure compliance with food safety guidelines.
• Develop and review menu items in line with business needs.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu development

Food safety compliance

Supply chain management

Coaching and mentoring

Job description

We’re looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen team in our busy Inn

You will be responsible for a diverse team, cooking from fresh and serving the highest standard of food. Our kitchen could be expected to deliver around one thousand meals per week including breakfast, lunch, dinner, events and room service.

Your day to day;

• You will be responsible for ensuring that ingredients are stored, prepared, cooked and presented to the highest standard and meets our guests’ requirements, complying with food safety guidelines
• Ensuring a clean and hygienic kitchen environment is maintained at all times. Following food safety management procedures and keeping the necessary records that meet internal and external standards
• Development of all menu items and specials, reviewing and refreshing dishes in line with business requirements and other external factors
• Use provided technology to aid menu planning, purchasing and safety procedures
• Collaborate with the Inn’s leadership team to ensure a safe environment for both guests and staff
• You will constantly focus on improving the performance of your team and yourself, consistently achieving targets and delivering results

Who are we looking for?

You will be able to demonstrate a keen business sense, producing menu items and directing a team in line with commercial and customer requirements delivering the highest level of quality.

As Head Chef, you will be someone with a proven track record of designing rotas that allow you to forecast and manage labour costs. You must understand the need to consider team characteristics and their collective productivity, looking to improve and deliver standards in the most efficient way possible.

You will be comfortable collaborating with other senior chefs in the group, sharing best practices in recruitment, retention and developing talented individuals.

From your experience you will be able to identify ways that business strategy, customer profile, culture and constraints influence the development of creative, profitable and competitive menus. You will be able to foresee market and business scenarios that present risks and opportunities to the business.

Someone who can set measurable, challenging goals for all team members, finding ways to improve staff’ knowledge and their approach, coaching and mentoring the kitchen team. Experience of delivering technical training and development content would be beneficial.

You will have a grasp of the principles of supply chain management, waste management, sustainable procurement and working practices in the kitchen. Understanding the principles of profit and loss and recognising how you can support the overall financial performance of the business through an efficient operation, building on past experience to achieve monthly and annual budgets.

In return, we are offering a rewarding role with scope for career progression along with;

• A competitive salary, negotiable dependent on experience
• Wagestream - the ability to access up to 40% of your wages as you earn them each week
• 28 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years)
• Health cash plan
• Generous employee discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Apprenticeships available
• Life assurance
• Bespoke training programmes accessible to all
• An engaging & supportive work environment