Junior Sous Chef

Kitchen - The Acorn Inn; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A charming hotel in Dorchester is seeking a talented Junior Sous Chef to join their culinary team. This full-time role offers a salary of £34,000 per annum, with numerous benefits including a substantial service charge, holiday allowance starting at 20 days, and professional development opportunities. The ideal candidate will have experience in fine dining or a 4- or 5-star hotel, and possess strong organisational skills. Join a passionate team dedicated to delivering quality food in a vibrant environment.

Benefits

Holiday allowance starting at 20 days

Excellent service charge

Professional learning and development opportunities

Discounted accommodation rates

Complimentary uniform and dry-cleaning services

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a similar role within a 4- or 5-star hotel or fine dining restaurant.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to lead a section confidently and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Sous Chef and Head Chef on a daily basis.
• Ensure that all recipes and food items are prepared according to standards.
• Train junior staff and maintain kitchen health standards.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Positive attitude

Passion for quality food

Job description

Junior Sous Chef

Incredible benefits

We are currently recruiting for a talented and motivated Junior Sous Chef to join the culinary team at our hotel. This is a full-time position, ideal for someone with similar experience in a four- or five-star hotel. You should be able to work effectively as part of a fast-paced team, and have excellent communication and organisational skills.

Location: Evershot, Dorset

Employment Type: Full-time

Working Pattern: Shift work (5 days on, 2 days off)

Salary: £34,000 per annum including service charge

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is proud to be recognised as an industry leader in hospitality and people development. We were named Best Employer at the 2025 Cateys and received the prestigious AA’s Hotel Group of the Year award for 2024. We are especially proud of our dedication to developing our people, having received the Princess Royal Training Award three times (2017, 2020, and 2023) from HRH The Princess Royal and City & Guilds.

Our commitment to excellence has earned us multiple accolades including Top Employer in the United Kingdom for both 2024 and 2025, a certification of our outstanding employee conditions and commitment to workplace excellence and Sustainable Business (2023) at The Cateys.

The charming Acorn Inn transports you to the pages of a Thomas Hardy novel, as this 16th century coaching inn features in Tess of the d’Urbervilles. This four-star hotel has 10 rooms, an award-winning restaurant and bar, a skittles alley.

Key Responsibilities as a Junior Sous Chef

• Be able to assist the Sous Chef and Head Chef on a daily basis.
• Ensure that all recipes and product yields are accurately costed and reviewed regularly.
• Ensure that all food items are prepared as per standard recipe cards whilst maintaining portion control and minimising waste.
• Training junior members of staff and that chefs are always in clean, tidy uniforms and are always presentable to be in guest view.
• Maintaining health and safety standards in the kitchen.
• General section organisation and section ordering.

What are we looking for?

• Previous experience in a similar role within a 4- or 5-star hotel or fine dining restaurant.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to lead a section confidently and efficiently.
• A team player with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Passion for quality food and presentation.

What’s in it for you?

• Holiday allowance starting at 20 days and increasing with length of service up to 27 days + 8 bank holidays
• Excellent service charge added to your salary every month.
• Professional, award winning learning and development opportunities from day one.
• Fantastic recommend a friend and family bonus scheme worth up to £600.
• Enhanced paid maternity leave & paternity leave.
• 50% off on food and 25% off on beverages in any Red Carnation Hotels F&B outlets.
• Discounted accommodation rates at Red Carnation Hotels worldwide.
• Two paid volunteering days each year, because we care about our community.
• Access to immediate Employee Assistance Programme, because we care about our employees.
• Vibrant hotel recognition events every month and hotel-based incentives (Employee of the Month / Manager of the Quarter).
• Social and team building events per hotel.
• Global Employee Appreciation Party, where we get to celebrate our incredible teams.
• Free meals on duty.
• Complimentary uniform and dry-cleaning services.

Red Carnation Hotels is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We electronically scan and store a copy of your passport/visa and/or ID card to gain a clear indication of the authenticity of the document and establish the ‘Right to Work’ in the UK.