Sous Chef
Breath HR
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in Edinburgh is seeking a skilled Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in daily kitchen management and to lead a busy catering team. The role focuses on delivering high-quality food and service in a fast-paced environment, with emphasis on training, coaching and continuous improvement.
The position is a full-time maternity cover, with 45 contracted hours per week and a salary up to £35,000 depending on experience.
Qualifications
- Proven experience as a Sous Chef or Senior Chef de Partie seeking leadership.
- Strong knowledge of culinary techniques and kitchen operations.
- Experience supervising, coaching or developing kitchen staff.
- Demonstrable leadership with ability to motivate a diverse team.
- Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP and health & safety requirements.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Support the Head Chef in overall kitchen management and operations.
- Lead and supervise kitchen team to deliver high standards and engagement.
- Prepare dishes to high specification following recipes and presentation guidelines.
- Ensure smooth service, manage workload and resources during peak times.
- Assist with staff training, onboarding and development of junior staff.
- Carry out people-management activities including coaching and delegation.
Skills
Job description
Salary£ Up to 35 000, depending on experience
28 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JX
Vacancy listed10/08/2026
Sous Chef
Reporting to: Head Chef
Hours of work: 45 contracted hours/ week
Salary: Up to £35 000 p/a, depending on experience
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is part of the Artisanal Spirits Co and was formed from the unconventional. We think a little bit differently and have made it our mission to build our whisky community by offering a valuable membership experience that attracts and inspires involvement. We host the world’s most colourful whisky experiences, bringing members together and having fun along the way. SMWS is recognised for its award-winning whiskies and unique and playful approach.
The Society’s mission is to grow our membership while ensuring everyone appreciates a sense of belonging to a like-minded community of whisky lovers. We are now renowned as the world’s leading whisky club, bringing an international community together to share in a constant variety of exceptional and multi award-winning single cask whiskies, enjoyed at colourful whisky tastings, festivals, and events.
Our teams share a common spirit, and an ability to get things done. We have shared goals and behaviours: Respect, Grit and Determination, Innovation and Progression, driven by unique people where diversity in thought and action is our core strength.
This is a key leadership role within our catering team. The Sous Chef supports the Head Chef in the day-to-day management of the kitchen, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality food and service standards. The role requires excellent culinary skills, strong organisational abilities, and the confidence to lead and develop a team in a fast-paced environment.
The successful candidate will help drive kitchen performance, maintain exceptional food quality, and foster a positive and inclusive team culture. They will deputise for the Head Chef in their absence and play an active role in training, coaching and motivating kitchen staff. This role is a temporary maternity cover and full-time.
- Support the Head Chef in the overall management and operation of the kitchen.
- Lead, motivate and supervise kitchen team members to ensure high levels of performance and engagement.
- Prepare and oversee the preparation of dishes to the highest standards, following recipes, specifications and presentation guidelines.
- Ensure a smooth and efficient service, managing workload and resources effectively during busy periods.
- Assist with staff training, onboarding and ongoing development of junior chefs and kitchen assistants.
- Conduct day-to-day people management activities, including performance support, coaching and delegation of duties.
- Ensure all food safety, health and safety, and hygiene standards are adhered to at all times.
- Monitor stock levels, support ordering processes, and help minimise waste whilst maintaining cost controls.
- Assist with menu development, seasonal food offerings and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support the Head Chef with rota planning and labour management to ensure appropriate staffing levels.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organisation and equipment maintenance throughout the kitchen.
- Act as the lead kitchen contact in the absence of the Head Chef.
- Proven experience as a Sous Chef, or an experienced Chef de Partie looking to progress into a leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation and kitchen operations.
- Previous experience supervising, coaching or developing team members.
- Demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team.
- Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP principles and health and safety requirements.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- High standards of personal presentation and professionalism.
- Ability to use initiative, solve problems and make decisions confidently.
- Passion for food, innovation and continuous improvement.
- Flexible approach to work and willingness to take on new challenges.
- This role will require working some evenings, weekends and holidays.
- This role is based on 45 hours per week, spread over 4 or 5 days.
- Standing for extended periods and working in a hot, busy kitchen environment.
- The role may involve lifting and moving stock and catering equipment in line with safe working practices.
- Leadership and team development
- Communication and relationship building
- Organisation and planning
- Accountability and ownership
- Problem solving and decision making
- Adaptability and resilience
- Customer and quality focus
- 1. Staff bottle allocation
- 2. SMWS Staff Membership
- 3. Private Medical Care with Aviva
- 4. Group Life Insurance (Death in service)
- 5. Discretionary bonus scheme
- 6. Starting from 29 days holidays inclusive of statutory days
- 7. 30% off bottles and drinks at SMWS
- 8. Income protection and critical illness cover
- 9. Bike to work scheme
- 10. Electric car scheme
- 11. £100 annual allowance for glasses (screen users only)
- 12. Workplace Nursery scheme
- 13. Employee Assistance Programme with Health Assured
- 14. Auto-enrolment pension scheme
- 15. Salary exchange pension scheme
- 16. Charitable Giving and Volunteering
- 17. Birthday voucher
- 18. Annual Staff Party
- 19. Long service award gift and celebration
1. Staff bottle allocation
At the start of each tax year (April) you will receive up to £500 retail value in vouchers to spend on bottles at our venues for you to explore and enjoy our marvellous liquid.
2. SMWS Staff Membership
All of our employees automatically become members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the worldwide whisky club with over 40,000 members who treasure flavour and the joy of shared experiences with whisky in its purest form.
3. Private Medical Care with Aviva
All employees at ASC have the option to opt in to this benefit from day 1 of employment. We pay the premium, and you must pay the ‘benefit in kind’. Cover for family is not paid by ASC, however you can add them onto your policy at your own cost, paid through monthly salary payment.
4. Group Life Insurance (Death in service)
Upon completion of 12-month service with the company this benefit provides insurance to cover a lump sum benefit to the employee’s named recipient in the event of their death.
5. Discretionary bonus scheme
The ASC Bonus Scheme is an annual, non-contractual benefit that allows our people to take part in the success of our company.
6. 29 days holidays inclusive of statutory days during the first year of employment. This allowance will increase by 1 day for each year of employment up to a maximum of 34 days.
If you are part time, your annual holiday allowance will be pro‑rated.
7. 30% off bottles and drinks at SMWS
Whether visiting venues for food and drinks or to purchase bottles, all employees at ASC will receive 30% off their bill.
8. Income protection and critical illness cover
After 12 months service, employees with eligible conditions who are off work for 6 months and longer receive 66.7% of their base salary until they are fit to come back to work or reach the retirement age.
9. Bike to work scheme
This benefit scheme offers our employees the opportunity to save up to 43.25% on the cost of bicycles and/or safety equipment.
10. Electric car scheme
Please speak to the ASC People Team to request further details.
11. £100 annual allowance for glasses
Employees can claim back up to £100 on prescription glasses or contact lenses annually. This benefit is available for screen users who mostly work on a PC.
12. Workplace Nursery scheme
Our workplace nursery scheme is run by Enjoy Benefits and allows you to pay for your nursery fees before tax and NI deductions on your monthly salary (salary exchange), meaning you can save on the total cost of your monthly childcare.
13. Employee Assistance Programme with Health Assured
An EAP is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health, and general wellbeing.
Our EAP service provides a support network that offers expert advice and guidance 24/7, covering a wide range of issues.
14. Auto-enrolment pension scheme
The Company offers an auto-enrolment pension scheme with Peoples Pension and follows the Government Legislative requirements at all times.
15. Salary exchange pension scheme
Salary exchange pension schemes are a tax efficient way for employees to pay into their workplace pension. They can help you increase your take home pay by lowering your tax and National Insurance contributions. Our scheme is run through Husky, as with the Auto-enrolment scheme, our workplace pensions are with The People's Pension.
16. Charitable Giving and Volunteering
We know that many of you have a cause that you are very passionate about, as a result we will match any fund raising you carry out up to £200 per year per staff member. We give every employee an additional day volunteering leave each year, for you to be able to physically support a charity or volunteering activity of your choice.
17. Birthday voucher
As a small token from us, each employee receives a £25 Highstreet Voucher on their birthday each year.
18. Annual Staff Party
19. Long service award gift and celebration
In recognition of employee’s length of service ASC offer milestone rewards such as vouchers and extra annual leave, from 5 years, right up to 20 years’ service
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