Sous Chef

Heard Soho; Greater London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary of £43,000 - £46,000 per year O

50% off food and drink in our sites

Cycle to work scheme

High street discounts

Professional growth: Mental Health 1st

H&S Level 3 qualification supported

Your Birthday off

Job summary

Heard. in London is seeking a Head/Sous Chef to lead a fast-paced kitchen within our premium smash burger concept. You will develop the team, ensure flawless execution across all services, and take charge of kitchen sections and the pass when needed.

You will oversee prep, stock, and deliveries, enforce strict hygiene and HACCP standards, and drive guest satisfaction with consistently excellent dishes. A strategic thinker who thrives under pressure will excel here.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in a high-volume kitchen.
• Track record coaching junior chefs on the line.
• Calm, organised leadership during peak service.
• Genuine passion for premium fast-casual hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example in professionalism, attitude, and kitchen culture.
• Support training, onboarding and development of junior kitchen team members.
• Deliver high standards across services and ensure brand standards on every dish.
• Lead kitchen sections during service and manage the pass when required.
• Oversee daily prep, planning, stock rotation, ordering and deliveries.
• Maintain immaculate kitchen hygiene and compliance with food safety standards.
• Drive guest satisfaction with consistent product execution, presentation and taste.
• Help manage food costs and labour productivity without compromising quality.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and General Manager to improve standards and flow.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team training

Organisation

Attention to detail

Passion for food

Job description

Head Chef – Heard.

Burgers worth gathering for.

Heard. is a premium fast-casual smash burger concept from 2 Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey, born from a desire to take an everyday classic and make it quietly exceptional. We combine top-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients with the rigour and technique of the world’s best kitchens. No gimmicks, no shortcuts - just maximum flavour done right.

After a massive year touring the UK’s biggest events, we opened our permanent home in Borough last year, pairing our signature burgers with considered natural wines, craft beer, and a warm, efficient service style.

Now, with our second site in Soho thriving, we are looking forward to our next chapter. We are actively eyeing up our third and fourth restaurants andare looking to bolster our leadership team with aSous Chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment and strives for excellence.

The Heard Package:

• Salary: £43,000 - £46,000 per year OTE (depending on experience).
• Benefits: Access to benefits platform from day one including 50% off food and drink in our sites, cycle to work scheme and high street discounts

• Professional Growth: Formal qualifications paid for, including Mental Health First Aid and H&S Level 3.

• Clear Progression: Genuine opportunities to progress; we are actively expanding and love promoting from within to fill Head Chef roles as we grow.
• Your Birthday off!

What You’ll Do

• Develop the Team: Lead by example in professionalism, attitude, and kitchen culture. You will support the training, onboarding, and development of our junior kitchen team members, keeping morale high and standards tight.

• Excellence in Execution: Support senior kitchen leadership in delivering consistently high standards across all services. You'll ensure the brand standards are executed flawlessly on every single dish.

• Lead the Line & Pass: Take full responsibility for kitchen sections during service and step up to lead the pass when required. You will keep the kitchen energy high, focused, and calm under pressure.

• Master the Prep & Supply: Oversee the daily prep, prep planning, and daily readiness. You will assist with stock rotation, ordering, and deliveries to ensure the kitchen is always set up for success.

• Uphold Total Compliance: Drive immaculate kitchen hygiene. Ensure the BOH is fully compliant across food safety, HACCP, health & safety, and daily cleanliness routines - keeping us ready for a 5-star EHO rating at all times.

• Drive Guest Satisfaction: Deliver absolute consistency. Ensure 90%+ of feedback from guests and mystery diners reflects excellence in product execution, presentation, and taste.

• Protect the Margins: Maintain strict portion control and minimise food waste. You will support the Head Chef in managing food costs (COS) and labour productivity without ever compromising on quality.

• Contribute to the Brand: Bring your ideas to the table. Meet regularly with the Head Chef and General Manager to suggest ways to improve business standards, kitchen efficiency, and operational flow.

What You Bring

• Proven Kitchen Leadership: Solid experience as a Senior Sous Chef, Sous Chef or strong Senior Chef de Partie looking for that next big step up in a high-volume, premium fast-casual or high-standard restaurant environment.

• A Team-First Mindset: A passion for coaching junior chefs in real-time, correcting and reinforcing our non-negotiable food standards right on the line.

• Precision & Calm: Strong organisational skills, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to stay focused and clear-headed during peak shifts.

• Genuine Passion: You love great food, consistency, discipline, and the art of effortless, premium fast-casual hospitality.

This is an opportunity to help shape a growing brand, not simply clock into a kitchen. So, if you are a grounded kitchen leader who takes food seriously but leaves the stuffy formality at the door, we would love to hear from you.