Junior Sous Chef

Culinary Collective; Greater London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £43-£46k per year

Benefits platform from day one

Professional growth: qualifications

Birthday off

Job summary

Heard. is seeking a Junior Sous Chef to join our fast-paced, premium kitchen in Borough and Soho. You’ll lead busy sections, uphold brand standards on every burger, and coach junior cooks to deliver consistency and speed during peak service.

You will partner with the Sous and Head Chef on daily prep, stock management, and cost control, while contributing to a warm, efficient service and a growing, high-profile brand in London.

Qualifications

• Proven kitchen leadership experience in high-volume, premium environments.
• Ability to train and coach junior kitchen staff.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the busiest sections during peak service while maintaining brand standards.
• Own sections and support running the pass when required.
• Oversee daily prep, ordering, deliveries and stock rotation.
• Coach Grill Chefs & Kitchen Porters on consistency, speed and quality.
• Assist senior leadership in controlling costs and waste.
• Ensure kitchen hygiene and HACCP compliance.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team motivation

Precision under pressure

Food safety

Job description

Burgers worth gathering for. Heard. is a premium fast-casual smash burger concept from 2 Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey, born from a desire to take an everyday classic and make it quietly exceptional. We combine top-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients with the rigour and technique of the world’s best kitchens. No gimmicks, no shortcuts - just maximum flavour done right.

Head Chef – Heard. Burgers worth gathering for. Heard. is a premium fast-casual smash burger concept from 2 Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey, born from a desire to take an everyday classic and make it quietly exceptional. We combine top-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients with the rigour and technique of the world’s best kitchens. No gimmicks, no shortcuts - just maximum flavour done right. After a massive year touring the UK’s biggest events, we opened our permanent home in Borough last year, pairing our signature burgers with considered natural wines, craft beer, and a warm, efficient service style. Now, with our second site in Soho thriving, we are looking forward to our next chapter. We are actively eyeing up our third and fourth restaurants and are looking to bolster our leadership team with a Junior Sous Chef who wants to sharpen their leadership skills in a fast-paced, high-energy environment. The Heard Package

• Salary: £43,000 - £46,000 per year OTE (depending on experience).
• Benefits: Access to benefits platform from day one including 50% off food and drink in our sites, cycle to work scheme and high street discounts
• Professional Growth: Formal qualifications paid for, including Mental Health First Aid and H&S Level 3.
• Clear Progression: Genuine opportunities to progress; we are actively expanding and love promoting from within to fill Sous Chef and Head Chef roles as we grow.
• Your Birthday off!

What You’ll Do

• Excellence on the Line: Lead by example on the line. You’ll hold down the busiest sections during peak service, ensuring the brand specs and high standards are executed flawlessly on every single burger.
• Step Up to the Pass: Own your sections and step up to support running the pass when required. You will keep kitchen communication sharp and stay calm under pressure.
• Drive Daily Readiness: Be the engine room of the kitchen. Oversee daily prep lists and ensure the kitchen is completely set up before service kicks off. Assist with daily ordering, deliveries, and stock rotation.
• Coach the Team: Support the training and onboarding of our Grill Chefs & Kitchen Porters. You'll be on the ground coaching them on consistency, speed, and quality in real time.
• Drive Guest Satisfaction: Support the senior leaders in delivering absolute consistency. Ensure 90%+ of feedback from guests and mystery diners reflects excellence in product execution, presentation, and taste.
• Protect the Specs & Margins: Keep a sharp eye on portion control and minimise food waste. You will support senior kitchen leadership in keeping food costs (COS) and labour tight on every shift.
• Champion Cleanliness & Compliance: Drive immaculate kitchen hygiene standards. Ensure the kitchen complies with food safety, HACCP, and health & safety regulations, keeping the site 5-star EHO ready.
• Contribute to the Business: Bring energy and ideas to daily briefings. Work closely with the Sous and Head Chef to suggest workflow improvements that make service smoother and faster.

What You Bring

• Proven Kitchen Leadership: Solid experience as a Sous Chef, Junior Sous or Senior Chef de Partie looking for a new challenge in a high-volume, premium fast-casual or high-standard restaurant environment.
• A Team-First Energy: A positive, supportive attitude with a natural ability to motivate the team around you.
• Precision under Pressure: Strong organisational skills, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to stay focused when the ticket machine gets busy.
• Genuine Passion: You take food seriously, care about consistency and discipline, and want to learn the ropes of kitchen management from the best.

This is an opportunity to help shape a growing brand, not simply clock into a kitchen. So, if you are a grounded ambitious chef who takes food seriously but leaves the stuffy formality at the door.