Junior Pastry Sous Chef

Ottolenghi Bicester; Cherwell District; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 28 days

Staff meals

Healthcare plan

Refer a Friend £500

Training & development

Birthday treat

Cooking workshops

Job summary

Ottolenghi Bicester Village is hiring a pastry chef to produce a wide range of pastry, desserts, and baked goods to Ottolenghi standards. You'll help manage the pastry section, ensuring on-time production and consistency with our brand.

You'll collaborate with the kitchen team on menus and events, focus on food safety and allergen management, and contribute to recipe development while delivering high-quality products in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a pastry or bakery role in a quality kitchen.
• Strong technical skills across pastry, patisserie, and baking.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety and allergen management.

Responsibilities

• Produce a wide range of pastry, desserts, and baked goods to the highest standard.
• Maintain consistency and quality in every product, in line with Ottolenghi recipes and brand identity.
• Manage the pastry section efficiently, ensuring production is planned and delivered on time.
• Assist with recipe development and creative contributions to the pastry offering.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen, and hygiene regulations.
• Support stock management, ordering, and waste reduction within the pastry section.
• Collaborate with the wider kitchen team on menus, events, and product launches.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and safe working environment.

Skills

Pastry

Patisserie

Baking

Food safety

Job description

At Ottolenghi, we’re known for vibrant food, busy delis, and restaurants full of energy—but what really matters is our people. We create environments where teams feel supported, take pride in what they do, and deliver a genuinely warm experience to every guest.

Ottolenghi Bicester Village brings our signature flavours and warm hospitality to one of the UK's most celebrated retail destinations. It's a unique and exciting location that welcomes guests from across the country and beyond

What you’ll do

• Produce a wide range of pastry, desserts, and baked goods to the highest standard.
• Maintain consistency and quality in every product, in line with Ottolenghi recipes and brand identity.
• Manage the pastry section efficiently, ensuring production is planned and delivered on time.
• Assist with recipe development and creative contributions to the pastry offering.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen, and hygiene regulations.
• Support stock management, ordering, and waste reduction within the pastry section.
• Collaborate with the wider kitchen team on menus, events, and product launches.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and safe working environment.

What we’re looking for

• 2+ years of experience in a pastry or bakery role within a quality kitchen environment.
• Strong technical skills across pastry, patisserie, and baking.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety and allergen management.

Key skills

• High attention to detail and a passion for precision and presentation.
• Creative flair combined with strong technical foundations.
• Ability to work to tight timescales and manage multiple products simultaneously.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Well-organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Comfortable using relevant IT systems.
• Ability to multitask and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment.
• Calm under pressure with a solution-focused mindset.
• A genuine passion for pastry, baking, and confectionery and continuous improvement.

What’s in it for you?

• 28 days annual leave per year, inclusive of bank holidays
• Delicious Ottolenghi staff meals on shift and generous staff discount
• Health and well-being support through our HSF healthcare plan (covering dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more), plus a 24/7 GP helpline and access to Perkbox discounts
• Refer a Friend Bonus: £500 for each successful referral
• Learning & Development opportunities including management coaching, WSET wine training, Ottolenghi Chef’s Academy workshops, and access to external courses
• A warm, inclusive working culture where individuality, growth, and creativity are celebrated
• Enhanced Parental Pay after two years’ service
• A special birthday treat to celebrate your day
• Exclusive workshops and demos, including cooking, food, wine, and cocktail sessions in the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen
• A collaborative and creative environment where your ideas are valued

If you care about great food, great people, and doing things properly, we'd love to hear from you.