Sous Chef

Gate Gourmet; Greater London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

gategroup seeks a Specialty Sous Chef to lead Japanese cuisine initiatives on a global stage, reporting to the Head Chef. You will craft standout dishes, guide kitchen teams, and ensure safety standards while driving innovation across premium operations worldwide.

This role blends creativity with leadership in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, offering opportunities to influence menus and elevate customer experiences across regions.

Qualifications

• Strong experience as a Sous Chef or Head Chef in a Japanese culinary environment.
• Background in a 5-star premium dining or high-volume operation.
• Ability to lead and develop a diverse kitchen team.
• Knowledge of HACCP and global food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Create standout dishes and cutting-edge menus, blending tradition with innovation and authentic Japanese flavours.
• Lead specialty food production, ensuring quality, consistency, and culinary brilliance.
• Own the menu presentation experience, inspiring clients with creativity, clarity, and confident culinary storytelling.
• Guide and uplift kitchen teams, acting as a role model and stepping up as a leader when the Head Chef is away.
• Champion excellence in food safety and compliance, maintaining the highest global standards.
• Boost operational performance, maximising yield, minimising waste, and elevating productivity.
• Drive innovation across global culinary initiatives, shaping new concepts and contributing to exciting development initiatives.
• Pattern 4 on 2 off

Job description

Step Into a High-Impact Culinary Role – Become Our Specialty Sous Chef and Let Your Japanese Cuisine Expertise Shine on a Global Stage!

Are you a chef with passion, precision, and a flair for innovation?

We’re searching for a dynamic and talented Specialty Sous Chef to join our elite culinary team. Reporting to the Head Chef, you’ll take centre stage in crafting exceptional dishes rooted in authentic Japanese cuisine, while driving creativity and excellence across our entire operation.

This is more than a kitchen role — it’s your chance to influence menus enjoyed around the world, lead projects that shape global culinary standards, and bring bold ideas to life.

What You'll Be Doing

• Create standout dishes and cutting-edge menus,blending tradition with innovation and showcasing authentic Japanese flavours.
• Lead specialty food production,ensuring every plate delivers quality, consistency, and culinary brilliance.
• Own the menu presentation experience,inspiring clients with creativity, clarity, and confident culinary storytelling.
• Guide and uplift kitchen teams,acting as a role model and stepping up as a leader when the Head Chef is away.
• Champion excellence in food safety and compliance,maintaining the highest global standards.
• Boost operational performance,maximising yield, minimising waste, and elevating productivity.
• Drive innovation across global culinary initiatives,shaping new concepts and contributing to exciting development initiatives.
• Pattern 4 on 2 off

What You’ll bring to the table

We’re looking for a chef who is both talented and forward-thinking. You will have:

• Strong experience as a Sous Chef or Head Chef in a Japanese culinaryenvironment
• Strong background in a 5-star premium dining or high-volume culinary operation
• A natural ability to lead, motivate, and developa diverse culinary team
• Sound knowledge of HACCPand global food safety standards
• Familiarity with modern kitchen systems and recipe management tools
• A recognised culinary qualification — extra leadership or sustainability training is a bonus

Why Join Us?

This role offers the chance to contribute to an organisation recognised for its global culinary standards, innovation, and commitment to excellence. You’ll work in a creative, fast-paced environment where your ideas are valued, and your culinary expertise helps shape customer experiences worldwide.

You’ll join a team that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and pushing culinary boundaries. This is your chance to:

• Make your mark on menus enjoyed globally
• Bring fresh ideas to life in an environment that celebrates innovation
• Grow as a leader while doing what you love every day
• Work with high-performing professionals who share your passion for excellence

If you’re ready to elevate your career, lead with creativity, and deliver culinary excellence at an international scale in a role that genuinely matters, we’d love to hear from you.