senior sous chef

wagamama; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to £3,000

Tips shared with team

Staff meals on shift

Earned pay access

40–48 hour contract

Job summary

wagamama in the United Kingdom is hiring a senior sous chef to run the pass, lead the team, and bring the buzz to a fast-paced kitchen. It’s a role built for kitchen leaders seeking real responsibility and growth, with real impact on fresh food and service quality.

You’ll mentor chefs, maintain high food standards, and push for continuous improvement with a Kaizen mindset. This is a hands-on, high-energy kitchen role with strong progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• Lead the pass and team
• Maintain high food quality and kitchen vibes
• Mentor chefs and help them grow
• Handle prep and pace
• Kaizen mindset for continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead the pass and team in a fast-paced kitchen
• Ensure food quality and kitchen atmosphere remain high
• Mentor chefs and support their development
• Assist with prep, problem solving, and pacing during service
• Identify small improvements and implement them continuously

Job description

senior sous chef | full time

£16.29 per hour* + tips + up to £3,000 bonus per year

at wagamama, food is life. our kitchens are all about fresh food, fast-paced, and full of real people making real food. no microwaves, no shortcuts, just big energy and bigger flavours. as senior sous chef, you’ll run the pass, lead the team, and bring the buzz. it’s a role built for head chefs in the making, with real responsibility, real impact and real food

What You’ll Be Doing

• creating a place where your team feels safe, seen, and proud to show up
• making sure food quality and kitchen vibes stay sky-high
• mentoring chefs and helping them grow
• jumping into prep, solving problems, and keeping pace
• thinking with a kaizen mindset. constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you’ll love this role if you...

• you’re currently a kitchen manager or senior sous chef eager to take the next step
• thrive working with fresh food
• love the energy of a busy service
• care about food, people and creating a safe space
• want the opportunity to grow into a head chef
• believe kitchens should be full of energy, passion and connection

What You’ll Get

• a culture that backs your growth, wellbeing + individuality
• up to £3,000 annual bonus
• a share of tips*
• 50% off wagamama outside of work
• free meals on shift
• early access to earned pay with wagestream
• 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for new parents
• 30% off at our other brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito + more)

in addition to this, we offer benefits such as: pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail + leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships + long service awards

we’re proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a place at our bench

Feed Yourself, Feed Others

• paid as a salary of £40,653 per year based on a 48 hour contract
• 100% of tips go to our teams. actual tips by restaurant will vary. tips are left solely at our guests discretion and are not considered as wages by the company nor are they guaranteed in any way