Senior Sous Chef

Maison Estelle; Witney; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff rates

Biannual socials

Estelleversary gifts

Uniform provided, cleaned and pressed

Onsite seamstresses

28 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Job summary

Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire is seeking a Senior Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in maintaining exceptional quality and standards across all dishes. You will lead and train the brigade, drive menu concepts, and ensure compliance with health and safety policies.

You will also contribute to budget oversight and cross-department communications, with a focus on delivering memorable guest experiences and a positive team culture.

Qualifications

• Experience overseeing daily kitchen operations and ensuring quality standards.
• Ability to train and mentor kitchen brigades.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience rotating through all kitchen sections.
• Ability to manage budgets and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Chef in daily kitchen operations.
• Develop and deliver menu concepts and culinary opportunities.
• Update briefs across departments on provenance, allergens, and nutritionals.
• Oversee health & safety standards and kitchen operations.
• Stand in for Head Chef when needed and ensure quality of all dishes.

Skills

Leadership

Training & mentoring

Communication

Rotational kitchen

Operational management

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 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 £46,611.96 per annum based on a 45 hour contract - comprising a base salary of £37,512.96 plus a qualified estimate of £9,000 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
• 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 Estelleversary surprises. Nurture your well-being with stocked colleague spaces. Engage in forums shaping The Estelle Way. 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 throughout. 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 gifting for all employees.
• Colleague spaces stocked with food, drinks and a selection of juices, teas and coffees.
• Goes without saying but we will feed you during your shift.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• 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 2026, our full-time employees can expect to receive in the range of £9,000 in addition to their annual salary.