Senior Pizza Chef

The Fulham Shore; Exeter; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Virtual GP access & wellbeing support

Discounts on Franco Manca meals

Staff discounts

Annual social events

Referral scheme

Franco Academy

Free pizzas & drinks

Bread at home

Job summary

Franco Manca is seeking a Senior Pizza Chef in Exeter to lead the kitchen, craft sourdough pizzas, and mentor the team. You will work hands-on with dough, toppings, and our wood-fired ovens, ensuring high standards during busy shifts.

You will support the Head Chef in maintaining quality, hygiene, and efficient service while inspiring junior colleagues to grow their skills and passion for great pizza.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Pizza chef or in a professional kitchen environment.
• Experience handling fresh dough and wood-fired ovens.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities.
• Ability to stay calm and focused in fast-paced shifts.

Responsibilities

• As Senior Pizza Chef, lead the kitchen and support your team to deliver top service.
• Prepare and cook sourdough pizzas to perfection.
• Assist Head Chef in managing kitchen standards, quality and hygiene.
• Mentor and train junior team members with your knowledge.
• Hands-on dough prep, topping pizzas with fresh ingredients, and firing in wood ovens.
• Maintain a cool head during busy shifts to ensure smooth operations.
• Own stock management and food prep to keep service ready.

Skills

Leadership in kitchen

Pizza chef experience

Mentoring teammates

Calm under pressure

Dough handling

Tools

Wood-fired oven

Job description

• £13.26 – 16.26 per hour OTE (including service charge - our data says you can earn between £1.5 to £3 per hour on top of your pay)
• Free yummy pizzas and soft drinks on every shift
• Free Sourdough bread to cook at home
• A pension scheme to set you up for the future
• 24/7 virtual GP access and confidential counselling sessions and advice on wellbeing, money, legal and personal matters.
• Cashback, online discounts and discounted shopping vouchers to help with everyday savings.
• Gym and fitness discounts, cinema tickets, family days out and exclusive hospitality perks.
• Annual social events, incentives and competitions
• 50% staff discount when dining in any Franco Manca restaurants
• Up to £500 employee referral scheme (T&C apply)
• Ongoing personal growth and development with our Franco Academy all over the UK

About Us

At Franco Manca, we don’t just make pizza – we make moments. From our slow-rising sourdough and fresh, seasonal ingredients to our wood-fired ovens, we bring the best of traditional Italian pizza-making to every pizzeria. But the secret ingredient? Our people. We’re passionate, hard-working, and always up for a laugh, creating an environment where great food and good vibes go hand in hand. If you’re ready to take your pizza-making skills to the next level and lead by example, we’d love to welcome you to the Franco family.

What You’ll Do:

• As a Senior Pizza Chef, you’ll be a leader in the kitchen, helping to craft every pizza with care while supporting your team to deliver the best service possible.
• You’ll lead by example, preparing and cooking our famous sourdough pizzas to perfection.
• Support the Head Chef in managing the kitchen, ensuring high standards of food quality, consistency, and hygiene.
• Mentor and train junior members of the team, sharing your knowledge and expertise.
• Be hands-on with dough preparation, topping pizzas with the freshest ingredients, and firing them in our wood ovens.
• Keep a cool head during busy shifts, ensuring the kitchen runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Take responsibility for stock management and food prep, ensuring everything is ready for service.

What You’ll Bring:

• We’re looking for someone with experience, passion, and leadership qualities to help take our kitchen to the next level.
• You’ll have experience as a Pizza chef or in a professional kitchen environment.
• Be confident in handling fresh dough and working with a wood-fired oven.
• Have strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and support your team.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment, keeping calm and focused under pressure.
• Be passionate about food and committed to delivering the best pizza every time.
• Have a positive attitude, a team-first mentality, and the ambition to grow your career.

Franco Manca is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our people. We welcome applications from everyone and recruit based on skills, experience, and potential. If you need any adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know and we’ll be happy to support you.