Senior Sous Chef

Compass Group UK; Royal Borough of Greenwich; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning

Digital GP and wider healthcare

Travel discounts

Discounts on groceries

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Discounts for family and friends

Job summary

Restaurant Associates in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Senior Sous Chef to lead the kitchen, support the Head Chef and uphold the highest standards of food quality and service. This hands‑on role requires strong leadership, organisational skills and a proactive approach to maintaining efficiency during peak times.

You will oversee daily operations, mentor staff, and contribute to menu planning while ensuring food safety and cost controls. A comprehensive benefits package is included.

Qualifications

• Established Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef with proven leadership in a kitchen.
• Experience in contract catering or high‑volume kitchens is advantageous.
• Strong stock management and food cost awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation and service to maintain high standards of quality and consistency.
• Deputise for Head Chef and guide kitchen team during busy services.
• Coach and develop chefs, building skills and confidence through practical support and feedback.
• Assist with menu planning, food production and timely dish delivery.
• Manage ordering, stock rotation and portion control to reduce waste and hit cost targets.
• Assist with rotas, recruitment and onboarding for a capable team.
• Maintain food safety, allergen and hygiene standards with accurate checks and documentation.
• Collaborate with wider team to respond to feedback and improve dining experiences.

Education

Professional cookery qualifications

Food Hygiene Level 2 or 3 certification

Job description

Senior Sous Chef | Restaurant Associates

Restaurant Associates is looking for an experienced Senior Sous Chef to take a leading role in our kitchen, supporting the Head Chef and helping the team deliver excellent food and a consistently high standard of service.

This is a hands‑on opportunity for a confident chef who enjoys leading from the front, developing people and keeping a busy kitchen running smoothly. You’ll combine strong cooking skills with the organisation and commercial awareness needed to maintain quality, control costs and deliver an excellent dining experience.

The role

As Senior Sous Chef, you’ll work closely with the Head Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations, taking charge in their absence. You’ll set clear expectations, support the team through busy services and ensure every dish meets our standards for flavour, presentation and consistency.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading preparation and service, ensuring the kitchen operates efficiently and delivers food to a consistently high standard.
• Deputising for the Head Chef and providing clear direction to the kitchen team.
• Coaching and developing chefs, building their skills and confidence through practical support and feedback.
• Supporting menu planning, food production and the successful delivery of dishes.
• Managing ordering, stock rotation and portion control to reduce waste and support food cost targets.
• Assisting with rotas, recruitment and onboarding to maintain a capable, well‑organised team.
• Maintaining food safety, allergen and hygiene standards, including accurate checks and documentation.
• Working with the wider team to respond to feedback and improve the dining experience.

About you

You’ll be an established Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef with strong culinary skills and experience leading a kitchen team. You’ll be comfortable making decisions, prioritising workloads and maintaining standards during busy periods.

We’re looking for someone who communicates clearly, takes pride in their work and creates a positive, professional kitchen environment. You’ll understand stock management and food costs, bring a practical approach to solving problems and enjoy helping others develop.

Professional cookery qualifications, Food Hygiene Level 2 or 3 certification, and experience in contract catering or high‑volume kitchens would be an advantage.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Free meals
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un‑wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK’s leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!