Pastry Head Chef - Creative Leader, Menu Innovation & Team Growth

Ottolenghi Chelsea; Greater London; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 33 days

Staff meals

Health plan

Refer a Friend bonus

Learning & Development

Inclusive culture

Parental pay

Birthday treat

Workshops & demos

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Ottolenghi Chelsea seeks a Head Pastry Chef to lead and inspire the pastry team, crafting innovative dishes in line with Ottolenghi’s flavour philosophy. You will oversee production, ensure top quality, and manage costs while collaborating with the broader kitchen and Test Kitchen teams.

The role demands strong leadership, creative pastry skills, and a passion for seasonality and presentation in a high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Pastry Chef in a high-quality, high-volume kitchen, 2+ years.
• Strong understanding of flavour, technique, and seasonality.
• Confident leadership with ability to develop and inspire a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and motivate the pastry team to create a high-performing environment.
• Design and develop innovative dishes aligned with Ottolenghi flavour and seasonal ethos.
• Oversee production, quality control, and consistency across the pastry operation.
• Manage scheduling, ordering, stock control, and section organisation efficiently.
• Support menu development and seasonal launches with kitchen and Test Kitchen teams.
• Uphold standards of food safety, hygiene, and presentation.
• Manage food costs and contribute to budgeting and financial planning.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop junior pastry team members.

Skills

Pastry leadership

Pastry mastery

Food cost management

Production planning

Team coaching

Tools

Kitchen management software

IT systems in kitchen

Job description

Ottolenghi Chelsea seeks a Head Pastry Chef to lead and inspire the pastry team, crafting innovative dishes in line with Ottolenghi’s flavour philosophy. You will oversee production, ensure top quality, and manage costs while collaborating with the broader kitchen and Test Kitchen teams.

The role demands strong leadership, creative pastry skills, and a passion for seasonality and presentation in a high-volume environment.