sous chef

wagamama; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Biweekly pay + tips

Friend/family discount (50%)

Free meals on shift

Earned wage access (wagestream)

Pension scheme

Holiday and training

Discounts across TRG brands

Job summary

sous chef | wagamama is seeking a full-time sous chef to lead the kitchen shifts and guide the team in delivering fresh, bold dishes with consistent quality. You will work closely with management to maintain high standards, train staff, and ensure food safety and cost awareness.

This role offers biweekly pay, discretionary annual bonus up to 1,000, and staff perks including meals on shift, family discounts, and access to earned wage options.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing a busy kitchen
• Strong leadership and people development skills
• Knowledge of food safety standards and GP/labour cost awareness

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen shifts and manage the kitchen team
• Ensure dishes are prepared fresh and with high quality
• Coach and develop team members to perform at their best
• Foster a Kaizen mindset to continuously improve operations

Job description

sous chef | full time

at wagamama, food is life. our kitchens are all about fresh food, prioritising good ingredients and serving dishes that are made to order every time. no microwaves, no shortcuts, just big energy and bigger flavours. as a sous chef, you’ll support leading the shifts and the kitchen team while making sure every bowl is something to be proud of

what you’ll be doing

• working closely with the rest of the management team to run a vibrant and high-performing kitchen
• leading the kitchen with pride, making sure every dish is fresh, bold and full of flavour
• helping your team feel seen, supported, and proud of what they do
• nurturing your team to grow, not just hit targets
• thinking with a kaizen mindset - constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you’ll love this role if you...

• are passionate about supporting your team, focusing on training and developing others to help them be the best they can be and maintaining high standards
• are experienced in managing the line, planning shifts to make sure we have the right cover and love working with the team, coaching on the go
• have experience in supporting with your kitchen’s food, health and safety standards, understanding financial performance of a kitchen including gross profit, stock control and labour costs
• love to celebrate success with your team, recognising what drives individuals and their needs

what you’ll get

• a culture that backs your growth, wellbeing + individuality
• up to £1,000 annual bonus
• biweekly pay and a share of tips
• 50% off for friends and family
• free meals on shift
• early access to earned pay with wagestream
• 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay for new parents
• 30% off at other TRG brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito and more)

in addition to this, we offer the usual benefits such as pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail and leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships and long service awards

we’re proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a seat at our bench