Head Chef - Kettering

Lounge Underwear Ltd.; Kettering; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic hospitality company in Kettering is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen team. Responsibilities include delivering high-quality food, managing the team, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. This role offers a competitive salary, staff discounts, and numerous benefits including holiday pay and opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Staff food on every shift

50% off food and drinks

Paid breaks

28 days holiday

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Company pension scheme

Career progression opportunities

Tips shared equally

Christmas and Boxing Day off

Qualifications

• Proven kitchen skills with fresh ingredients.
• Strong leadership and work ethic.
• Ability to report on kitchen metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team to deliver excellent food standards.
• Ensure safe and clean kitchen operations.
• Manage kitchen teams through training and recruitment.

Skills

Experience with fresh ingredients

Knife skills

Food hygiene practices

Leadership in kitchen

Cooking skills

Job description

Overview

You are probably an existing Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef looking for your first step into a Head Chef role.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Experience of working with fresh ingredients and be able to demonstrate good chef/kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices).
• Your work ethic is rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in and leading from the front; playing an active role in delivering excellent kitchen and food standards as part of a high performing team.
• Familiar with managing through clear KPIs and making decisions considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
• Worked in kitchen environments where you’re required to report on various metrics including GPs; labour/house; food preparation.
• Demonstrated successful delivery of training and recruitment for kitchen teams including Apprentices, KPs, Chefs, Junior Sous Chefs and Sous Chefs.
• You love real cooking. We love real cooking. Customers love real cooking.
• You will be doing it with us—fresh, customer‑led, and with high‑quality ingredients.
• Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours.

You’ll be part of a dedicated, supportive team, working from our flexible all‑day menu to give people food that’ll make their day. It’ll be your responsibility to make each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and to make sure all prep and par is completed for each shift. You’ll be helping every customer leave happy, which they tend to do. Thanks to your great food.

Benefits

• Staff food on every shift.
• 50% off food and drinks (including alcohol) from day one at all three of our brands—Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside.
• Paid breaks.
• 28 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) pro rata.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years service.
• The most talked‑about staff party in hospitality—Loungefest!
• Competitions and incentives (like jetting off on an all‑expenses‑paid trip with one of our suppliers).
• Company pension scheme.
• Long service awards.
• Power over your pay with Wagestream.
• Emotional and practical support via the Licenced Trade Charity.
• Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast growing business.
• Achievable bonuses.
• Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked.
• Christmas and Boxing Day off.