Sous Chef

Birkbeck, University of London; Camden Town; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days paid leave

Pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Central London location

Job summary

Birkbeck College in London is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in delivering high-quality food across retail, hospitality and event catering. You will influence menus, drive quality, and lead junior kitchen staff in a busy, customer-focused environment.

This full-time role (37.5 hours) offers leadership responsibilities, stock control, and ongoing opportunities to shape food and beverage service while maintaining high standards and compliance with HACCP procedures.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in a high-volume kitchen.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and HACCP procedures.
• Experience driving quality, presentation standards and menu development.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage kitchen production.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop junior kitchen team members.
• Oversee food production, stock control and compliance.
• Deputise for the Head Chef as required to ensure smooth operation.
• Influence menu development and drive food quality across catering outlets.
• Maintain high standards while seeking opportunities to improve customer experience.

Skills

Team leadership

High-volume catering

Food safety HACCP

Kitchen operations

Education

Catering/culinary qualification

Job description

Are you an experienced Sous Chef looking for an opportunity to take the next step in your leadership journey? As Sous Chef, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head Chef to deliver a high-quality food offer across retail, hospitality and event catering operations.

Are you an experienced Sous Chef looking for an opportunity to take the next step in your leadership journey? As Sous Chef, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head Chef to deliver a high-quality food offer across retail, hospitality and event catering operations.

You will have the opportunity to influence menu development, drive food quality and presentation standards, contribute new ideas, and help shape an evolving food and beverage service. Working within a varied and customer-focused environment, you will lead and develop junior kitchen team members, oversee food production, stock control and compliance, and deputise for the Head Chef when required, making a visible impact on the day-to-day success of the operation.

You will bring proven experience in high-volume food production within a commercial catering, hospitality or similar environment, together with strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP procedures, stock control and kitchen operations.

We are looking for someone who enjoys supporting and developing others, can effectively plan and prioritise kitchen production, and is committed to maintaining high standards while continuously seeking opportunities to improve the customer experience. If you are passionate about great food, enjoy balancing hands-on cooking with team leadership responsibilities, and want a role where you can contribute to both operational performance and future innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Contract:

This role is offered on an open-ended basis

This is a full-time working 37.5 hours per week 5 out of 7 days.

Closing date: Thursday 19 November 2026. Interview date: Thursday 26 November 2026.

Salary and benefits:

Grade 5 of the College's London Pay Scale which is £35,524 rising to £39,761 per annum.

Birkbeck offers a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements and some of the most generous benefits in the HE sector, all while being located right in the heart of Central London.

The salary quoted is on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated Weighting/Allowance which applies only to staff whose normal contractual place of work is in the London area.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding a bronze Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.