Sous Chef

La Nouvelle Garde; Greater London; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £45,000+ (inc. Tronc)

Staff discount 50%

Staff meal on shift

Hospitality Rewards

Job summary

La Nouvelle Garde is seeking a Sous Chef to lead the kitchen and BOH team in our London site. You will partner with the Head Chef to drive service excellence, food quality and cost control, delivering the highest standards each day.

You will nurture and develop a high-performing team, oversee stock and supplier relations, and help shape a positive kitchen culture from the outset. Competitive salary and staff benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Currently working as a Sous Chef with leadership responsibilities.
• Experience leading a high-performing kitchen and multiple sections.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and development skills.
• Excellent knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, and kitchen operations.
• Organised, commercially aware and able to manage stock and food cost.
• Pride in delivering exceptional food and guest experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen and BOH team day-to-day operations.
• Support Head Chef and ensure service readiness.
• Oversee stock, food cost, quality and standards.
• Coach and develop the team and maintain high standards.
• Collaborate across kitchen sections for consistency.

Skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Food safety

Stock management

Food cost control

Guest experience

Job description

Our story

Back in 2019 in Paris, two friends, Charles and Victor, opened a brasserie together - the kind of place Parisians disappear into for a 3-hour lunch.

Our story

Back in 2019 in Paris, two friends, Charles and Victor, opened a brasserie together - the kind of place Parisians disappear into for a 3-hour lunch. They called it La Nouvelle Garde: a promise to eat and drink the French way, done properly, 100% homemade, cooked from scratch from the highest quality seasonal ingredients. They served classic French dishes prepared with care, generosity and excellence in beautiful, relaxed spaces full of energy. Guests loved it! So they opened another one, and then another one. And 9 brasseries later, it was finally time to bring it to London. In July 2026, in Sloane Square, Brasserie Olivia was born. This is just the beginning of our London story, and we'd love you to help write the next chapter.

The role

As a Sous Chef, you'll play a key role in leading our kitchen and BOH team. You'll be the right hand to the Head Chef, playing a key role in leading the day-to-day kitchen operation. You'll oversee every aspect of the kitchen, from service and team performance to stock, food cost, quality and standards. You'll lead by example, support the development of the team and ensure the kitchen operates efficiently, consistently and to the highest standard every day.

What Success Looks Like

• You'll lead a well-organised kitchen where every service runs smoothly and every chef and KPs know what to do.
• You'll ensure every dish is prepared, plated and served to the highest standard, every time.
• You'll oversee all kitchen sections, ensuring consistency, quality and collaboration across the team.
• You'll maintain exceptional food safety, cleanliness and operational standards throughout the kitchen.
• You'll coach, develop and inspire your team, creating a positive culture where people can perform at their best.
• You'll manage stock, deliveries and supplier relationships, ensuring the kitchen is organised and ready for service.
• You'll minimise waste, protect food cost and contribute to the commercial performance of the business.
• You'll work closely with the Head Chef to continuously improve the way the kitchen operates.

What You’ll Bring

• You're already working as a Sous Chef, or you're an experienced Junior Sous Chef ready for the next step.
• You're confident leading a high-performing kitchen and supporting multiple sections at the same time.
• You have strong leadership skills and know how to coach, motivate and develop a team.
• You have excellent knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, food safety and kitchen operations.
• You're organised, commercially aware and confident managing stock, food cost and kitchen performance.
• You lead by example, communicate clearly and take pride in delivering exceptional food and an outstanding guest experience.

What we offer:

• Annual salary from £45,000 (inclusive of Tronc)
• 50% discount across all Nouvelle Garde restaurants.
• A freshly prepared staff meal on every shift.
• Employee benefits platform (Hospitality Rewards)
• The opportunity to join a brand-new restaurant at the beginning of its journey and make a genuine impact from day one.
• The chance to help shape a high-performing kitchen team and culture from the early stages.
• Real opportunities for career progression as the business grows, with future restaurant openings already planned.
• The opportunity to work with the best UK suppliers and quality ingredients in a kitchen that prepares everything from scratch and takes pride in exceptional food.
• A supportive management team that values high standards, teamwork and continuous development.

La Nouvelle Garde is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Please note you must have a right to work in the UK.