Head Chef – Maternity Cover

Sticks'n'Sushi Kitchens; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team meals

Restaurant discount 50%

Development support

Referral bonus

Wagestream access

Wellbeing support

CODE app access

Team events

Job summary

Sticks'n'Sushi Kitchens is seeking a Head Chef (Maternity Cover) for its delivery kitchen in London. This full-time role requires leading a busy kitchen, crafting sushi and kushiyaki for delivery, and maintaining top standards with a calm, focused approach.

You will manage prep, quality, cleanliness and cost control while mentoring a cohesive team in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Head Chef experience in a busy kitchen.
• Excellent knife and sushi‑making skills.
• Calm, focused leadership under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Own every part of the kitchen from prep to quality, cleanliness and cost control.
• Craft top-class sushi and kushiyaki sticks for delivery.
• Keep kitchen rhythm: timings, packing and consistency for every order.
• Lead, coach and develop a close-knit kitchen team.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Knife skills

Sushi making

Attention to detail

Team spirit

Flexibility

Job description

Head Chef (Maternity Cover) – Delivery Kitchen

£40k – £45k per annum | Full-time, 48 hours a week

At Sticks'n'Sushi we serve high-quality, fresh food based on a unique combination of classic and creative sushi along with sticks from the grill. In our delivery kitchen there's no dining room, no candlelight and no host at the door. There's just the food, made with the same care as in every one of our restaurants, travelling to someone's sofa, office or birthday party. Behind it is our amazing team: our ‘Strange Fish’.

Fish are like us: we all swim together. But Strange Fish are bold, curious individuals who fit right in here. Gentle rebels: calm, curious, thoughtful. People who don't need to shout to be heard. People who make things feel easy. You'll have walked a similar path before, but your spirit is ready for a Head Chef role where you can bring your energy and vision, with a spark of dare.

We're looking for you: a true craftsperson who knows that a guest you'll never meet deserves the same perfect plate as the one sitting at the counter. You'll have Head Chef experience in a busy kitchen, a strong knowledge of crafting exceptional sushi, and a calm spirit that tunes in and focuses when the tickets keep coming. If you love the rhythm of a kitchen where every order counts, this is the place for you.

Are you:

• Someone who works with hands, head and heart in harmony? Precise, even when the screen is full and the riders are waiting?
• Someone who thinks about the moment the bag is opened, not just the moment it leaves the pass?
• Positive and fun to be around, in the heat (or cool) of a busy kitchen?
• Able to adapt and move with change, without letting standards drop?
• The type who stands shoulder to shoulder with their fellow chefs, with a big smile and a small ego?
• Culturally curious and hungry to learn more about our Danish 'n' Japanese roots?

What you'll be doing at Sticks'n'Sushi:

• Taking responsibility for every part of the kitchen, from prep and food quality through to cleanliness, compliance and, of course, cost control
• Making sure we create top-class sushi and the very best kushiyaki sticks, built to travel and to arrive looking just as they should
• Keeping the kitchen in a steady rhythm: timings, packing and consistency, so every order is right, every time
• Treating guest feedback and ratings as your dining room, listening closely and always finding ways to improve
• Nurturing, coaching and developing a close-knit kitchen team
• Being part of a family that will help you flourish and become the best you can be

What you'll bring to us:

• Head Chef experience in a busy kitchen (delivery or high-volume experience is a bonus, not a must)
• Excellent knife and sushi-making skills
• An eye for detail: always upholding the highest standards and making sure every shift is in the very safest pair of hands
• A love of deepening your craft, with respect for rituals and traditions but the curiosity to bring your own spark and ideas
• Team spirit, kindness and respect. We only swear at ourselves here, no one else.
• Thinking "we" rather than "I"
• Flexibility. Delivery has its own rhythm, and you'll move with it.
• A genuine commitment to making people happy, both team and guests

How we'll support your journey with us:

We want you to grow with us, so you can keep learning, developing your skills and taking on new responsibilities (and some healthy risk-taking!). Our training is structured to help you shine and create memories, in your role and beyond.

The benefits that go beyond the day-to-day:

• Delicious, freshly cooked team meals every shift
• 50% discount in all Sticks'n'Sushi restaurants
• Development and progression support
• A competitive referral bonus
• Wagestream: access to your earned wages whenever you need them, plus a range of financial benefits
• Wellbeing support through Hospitality Action
• Exclusive access to great restaurants, bars and hotels through the CODE app
• Team events, unforgettable parties and annual awards

That's us.