Kitchen Lead

CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria; Greater London; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A vibrant pizzeria in East London is seeking a Kitchen Lead to oversee kitchen operations and ensure high-quality food standards. This full-time position involves managing the kitchen team, monitoring welfare, and maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations. Ideal candidates will have strong organisational skills and a passion for hospitality. Competitive salary ranges from £37,000 to £39,000 per year with additional benefits including staff discounts and development opportunities.

Benefits

Opportunity to participate in four-day week trial

Free staff meal and drinks on site

Generous staff discount package

Whole-company staff party

Cycle to work scheme

Career development opportunities

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational and people-management skills.
• Passion for hospitality and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure food quality.
• Organise kitchen team payroll, rotas, and shifts.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members.
• Monitor team welfare and foster a positive environment.
• Maintain quality control of kitchen output.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Manage food costs and maintain gross profit margins.
• Promote sustainability within the kitchen operations.

Job description

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Kitchen Lead is responsible for leading the kitchen team to consistently deliver high-quality pizzas while ensuring smooth kitchen operations and compliance with health, safety, and sustainability standards. This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring excellent organisational and people‑management skills, as well as a passion for hospitality and operational excellence.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure consistent food quality and service standards.
• Organise the kitchen team, including payroll, rotas, and shift coordination.
• Support the onboarding, induction, and training of new kitchen team members, along with the People Team.
• Monitor and support team welfare, fostering a positive and professional work environment.
• Maintain quality control of all kitchen output to uphold brand and service standards.
• Ensure kitchen cleanliness and full compliance with environmental health and safety regulations.
• Manage food costs and maintain target gross profit (GP) margins.
• Promote and uphold sustainability, one of the key pillars of the business.

BENEFITS

• Opportunity to take part in our four‑day week trial upon successful completion of the 6 month probationary period.
• Free staff meal and a drink when working on site and staff soft drinks.
• Generous staff discount package across the whole company (Crate).
• A summer and winter whole‑company staff party.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Career development opportunities.
• Employee assistance program.

EXPERIENCE & EMPLOYMENT & SALARY & STARTING TIME

Experience: Not required

Employment: Full‑time

Salary: £37,000 – £39,000 yearly

Starting time: Immediate start!

About CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria: Crate Bar and Pizzeria is located in East London. With almost 100 staff members, our culture is fun, creative, and hardworking. Each role offers diversity and exposure to development opportunities throughout the company.