Senior Sous Chef

Maison Estelle; Witney; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury rural retreat in Witney is seeking an experienced Senior Sous Chef to assist the Head Chef in managing kitchen operations. You will oversee food quality, train the team, and ensure health and safety standards. The role offers a competitive salary with estimated earnings of up to £54,000 per annum including gratuities. Ideal candidates will have experience in a similar role, strong leadership skills, and a passion for culinary excellence within a team-oriented environment.

Benefits

Biannual company socials

Exclusive staff rates

Birthday Wheel surprises

Health cash plan

28 days holiday

Uniform provided and cleaned

Qualifications

• Experience managing kitchen operations and team training.
• Passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Ability to creatively develop innovative menu ideas.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Head Chef with daily kitchen operations.
• Oversee food quality and health & safety standards.
• Stand in for the Head Chef when absent.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Communication

Creativity

Food Safety Standards

Job description

Who are we?

Estelle Manor is a rural retreat set on an 85-acre estate in Oxfordshire. The manor has four restaurants, an extraordinary 3,000 sq metre Roman-inspired spa- Eynsham Baths, 108 bedrooms and a gym with class studios and padel courts. Plus, there’s a kids’ club for the little ones and a workspace. As the countryside companion to Maison Estelle, the manor is also a ‘hosted home’, bringing people together that have plenty to say and nothing to prove.

Senior Sous Chef

As the Senior Sous Chef, you will assist the Head Chef in managing all food related quality and standards, food, health, and safety in the kitchen. You will be someone who takes pride taking responsibility for all dishes coming out of the kitchen, an engaging and inspirational trainer and coach to your brigade and have a passion for delivering exceptional and memorable experiences for our members and guests.

The on target earning potential for this role is £50,000-£54,000 per annum OTE based on a 45 hour contract - comprising a base salary of £39,661. plus a qualified estimate of £12,000‑£15,000 in gratuities and service charge*. Please note this role is paid hourly so this is a projected salary and OTE.

Here's a bit more detail on what we see you doing in this role:

• Assisting the Head Chef to oversee and manage the daily operations within the kitchen at our Glasshouse Restaurant
• Delivering on the food concept vision and helping to develop innovative menus ideas, identifying new culinary opportunities within Estelle Manor.
• Updating briefs across departments on menu items, communicating all relevant provenance, allergens, nutritionals and other distinctive information.
• Overseeing budget and operations, assisting and engaging with the kitchens senior leadership team to manage all food health & safety standards.
• Standing in for the Head Chef in absence, feeling empowered to make managerial decisions within the kitchen's operations, ultimately being responsible for the quality of all items leaving the kitchen.

Who we are looking for?

• A team orientated, positive, driven, organised and solution focused leader.
• You are an inspiring leader who relishes taking responsibility for training and mentoring the team.
• Excellent communication and training skills.
• Someone who has worked in a rotational role on all sections of the kitchen.
• Experience managing the daily operations, set up, standards, operating procedures.
• Ability to perform under pressure and deliver results to deadlines.
• Someone who takes responsibility and initiative to explore issues and to generate new ideas with creative thinking.
• Passionate about delivering exceptional guest experience with keen attention to detail.

What’s in it for you?

At Estelle, we prioritize your well-being and growth, offering a range of perks to enrich your experience. Enjoy exclusive staff rates, biannual socials, and Birthday Wheel surprises. Nurture your well-being with stocked colleague spaces and daily Smart Fridges. Engage in forums shaping The Estelle Way and utilise the provided uniforms and onsite seamstress support. Join us for a fulfilling journey where you are valued, supported, and celebrated.

Here at Estelle, we want to create a unified culture and sense of belonging across both Estelle Manor and Maison Estelle. We have a range of perks and benefits at your fingertips:

• Biannual company socials plus smaller social and sports groups.
• Exclusive staff rates and F&B discounts across sister properties.
• Estelleversary and Birthday Wheel gifting for all employees (including overnight stays and dinners).
• Colleague spaces stocked with food, drinks and locally sourced coffee.
• Seasonal, daily stocked Smart Fridges with freshly prepared meals while on shift.
• Added protection of our pension, health cash plan and life assurance schemes.
• 28 days holiday, inclusive of bank holidays, which increases with length of service.
• Colleague Forums and Sustainability Committees to help create The Estelle Way.
• Recommend-a-friend bonus scheme.
• Uniform provided, cleaned, and pressed.
• Onsite seamstresses to ensure your uniform is fitted and repaired.

About gratuities & service charge:

• Gratuities (tips) are paid on a pro-rata basis regardless of your role.
• It is estimated that in 2025, our full-time employees can expect to receive in the range of £9,000 in addition to their annual salary.