Junior Sous Chef

Royal Shakespeare Company; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon is seeking a dedicated Junior Sous Chef to join a collaborative kitchen team. The role focuses on delivering high-quality, seasonal menus across all catering outlets, under the guidance of the Executive Chef.

This full-time, permanent position requires 48 hours per week over 5 days, typically 9am–7pm, with occasional evenings and weekend work to support performances and events. Interviews will include a practical cooking task.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a kitchen section across multiple services.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety and Health & Safety standards.
• Up-to-date food hygiene certification.
• Experience working across different kitchen sections in a busy environment.
• A passion for food, creativity and keeping up to date with food trends.
• Ability to coach and develop junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing a kitchen section to deliver high standards before, during and after service.
• Supporting kitchen operations, including stepping up in the absence of the Head Chef.
• Collaborating with senior chefs on menu development and food concepts.
• Delivering food across multiple sites and events, including restaurants, cafés, bars and hospitality.
• Maintaining stock control, monitoring deliveries and ensuring safe storage practices.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing junior kitchen staff.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

HACCP compliance

Food safety

Food hygiene certificate

Multi-site kitchen experience

Team coaching

Job description

Are you a talented chef looking to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative kitchen team? Are you passionate about high-quality food with fresh, seasonal ingredients? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where teamwork is valued?

Join us as a Junior Sous Chef and play a key role in shaping an innovative, premium dining experience across all RSC catering outlets.

At the RSC, you'll be part of a friendly, supportive and highly collaborative kitchen team that works closely together to deliver a consistently high standard of food and service. We've built a positive culture where everyone's contribution is valued, ideas are welcomed, and colleagues are encouraged to develop and grow.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Stratford-upon-Avon. You will be working 48 hours per week, over 5 days. Typical hours are 9am to 7pm, with some evening and weekend work to support performances and events. However, there are very few late finishes and no Sunday working, helping you maintain a healthy work-life balance while developing your career.

Take a look at our current Rooftop Restaurant menu here.

Reporting to the Executive Chef, key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading and managing a kitchen section to deliver high standards before, during and after service.
• Supporting kitchen operations, including stepping up in the absence of the Head Chef.
• Collaborating with senior chefs on menu development and food concepts.
• Delivering food across multiple sites and events, including restaurants, cafés, bars and hospitality.
• Maintaining stock control, monitoring deliveries and ensuring safe storage practices.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing junior kitchen staff.

To be suitable for this role, it is essential that you have:

• Proven experience leading a kitchen section across multiple services.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety and Health & Safety standards.
• Up-to-date food hygiene certification.
• Experience working across different kitchen sections in a busy environment.
• A passion for food, creativity and keeping up to date with food trends.
• Ability to coach and develop junior team members.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 1 November.

Interviews will be in-person and will include an interview and practical cooking task.

About the RSC

The RSC strives for excellence, and values creativity, inclusivity, sustainability, collaboration, and accountability.

We can offer great benefits and aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment which is happy, healthy and safe. We place great importance upon developing a diverse, highly motivated and energised workforce to help achieve our priorities. We put our values at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all individuals.

We believe that safeguarding children and adults is everyone's responsibility, and everybody working at the RSC has a duty to place safeguarding at the heart of their work. We welcome candidates who will support and advocate the RSC's environmental objectives continuing to improve our sustainability work and actions both on and off stage.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (no. 212481) is a registered charity.