Senior Sous Chef

SUMI Notting Hill; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals while on duty

Employee discounts across restaurants

Job summary

SUMI Notting Hill, part of Creative Restaurant Group, is seeking a Senior Sous Chef to join the senior kitchen team. You will be the Head Chef’s right hand, leading the brigade and shaping the menu, with a focus on sushi, robata and seasonal produce.

You’ll manage a busy, high-volume kitchen, drive cost control and food safety, train staff and coordinate with front of house. Notting Hill location, excellent progression opportunities within the group.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Senior Sous Chef or strong Sous Chef in a quality, high volume restaurant is essential.
• Japanese or robata experience is a real advantage.

Responsibilities

• Deputising for the Head Chef and taking full charge of the kitchen in their absence.
• Running the pass and making sure every dish leaves to recipe and standard.
• Leading, training and developing the whole brigade, including the Sous and Junior Sous Chefs.
• Driving menu development, tastings and seasonal changes with the Head Chef.
• Managing ordering, stock control, supplier relationships and waste.
• Taking responsibility for food costs, labour costs and gross profit targets.
• Planning rotas and leading recruitment and onboarding for the kitchen team.
• Owning food safety, hygiene, HACCP and allergen compliance.
• Running briefings and keeping strong communication with front of house and management.
• Working closely with the sushi team to keep service seamless.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

Team management

HACCP

Food safety

Allergen management

Communication

Attention to detail

Job description

Senior Sous Chef - SUMI, Notting Hill

SUMI opened on Westbourne Grove in 2021 and has become one of Notting Hill’s most loved neighbourhood restaurants. Created by renowned sushi master Endo Kazutoshi and part of Creative Restaurant Group, SUMI serves nigiri, temaki and dishes from the robata grill, with warm, genuine hospitality at its heart. We’re looking for a Senior Sous Chef to join our senior kitchen team and grow with us.

The Role

As Senior Sous Chef, you will be the Head Chef’s right hand and second in command of the kitchen. Our menu brings together sushi, small plates and dishes cooked over the robata grill, all built on the finest seasonal ingredients. You will lead the brigade day to day, run the kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence and play a key part in shaping the menu. You’ll work as one team with the sushi and front of house teams to deliver food our regulars keep coming back for.

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced chef ready for their final step before Head Chef, within a growing group.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deputising for the Head Chef and taking full charge of the kitchen in their absence
• Running the pass and making sure every dish leaves to recipe and standard
• Leading, training and developing the whole brigade, including the Sous and Junior Sous Chefs
• Driving menu development, tastings and seasonal changes with the Head Chef
• Managing ordering, stock control, supplier relationships and waste
• Taking responsibility for food costs, labour costs and gross profit targets
• Planning rotas and leading recruitment and onboarding for the kitchen team
• Owning food safety, hygiene, HACCP and allergen compliance
• Running briefings and keeping strong communication with front of house and management
• Working closely with the sushi team to keep service seamless

What We’re Looking For

Previous experience as a Senior Sous Chef or strong Sous Chef in a quality, high volume restaurant is essential. Japanese or robata experience is a real advantage.

You will need:

• Excellent technical skills and a sharp eye for detail
• A real respect for produce and an interest in Japanese cuisine
• Proven experience leading, training and motivating a full kitchen team
• Strong commercial awareness, including food costs, GP and labour control
• A calm, organised approach under pressure
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP and allergen management
• Clear communication and a team first attitude
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays

Salary:

£55,000 per year including service charge, plus benefits

Why Join Us?

At Creative Restaurant Group, we want people to build careers, not simply fill roles. You will lead alongside an experienced kitchen team inspired by Chef Endo. As your skills develop, you’ll have genuine opportunities to progress into Head Chef positions across the group.

• Help lead the kitchen at one of Notting Hill’s most loved neighbourhood restaurants
• Real input into menu development and the direction of the kitchen
• Clear opportunities for career progression
• The chance to grow across Creative Restaurant Group, including ENDO, Kioku and HUMO
• Staff meals while on duty
• Employee discounts across participating restaurants

Bring your skill, leadership and attention to detail to SUMI Notting Hill, and help us create food our guests remember.

Note: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without corporate sponsorship.