Sous Chef

Pod Café Kitchen; Portreath; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Beachfront location

Growth opportunities

Work/Life Balance

Staff discounts

Job summary

Pod Café Kitchen in Portreath, Cornwall, is launching a new concept with a Sous Chef role to lead daytime brunch and upcoming pizza service. The role starts at 25–35 hours per week, with potential to transition to full-time as Stage 2 opens.

You will work closely with the Head Chef and General Manager to drive kitchen operations, food quality and team culture during the transformation.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume kitchen operations.
• Ability to lead alongside Head Chef and GM.
• Passion for brunch and pizza concepts.
• Strong communication and calm under pressure.
• Interest in baking and sourdough is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Teamwork: Work hand-in-hand with the Head Chef and GM to align front-of-house and back-of-house operations, ensuring seamless service and a great team atmosphere.
• Cool Head on the Line: Step up alongside the Head Chef during high-volume, fast-paced rushes, maintaining control, kitchen flow and exceptional food standards.
• Menu Development & Baking: Collaborate with the Head Chef on fresh brunch ideas, in-house baking recipes, healthy bowls and innovative daily specials, while helping develop sourdough pizza recipes ahead of Stage 2.
• Low-Waste Ethos: Champion intelligent kitchen practices, minimising food waste, managing stock efficiently and creating thoughtful, health-conscious dishes.
• Operations & Standards: Help oversee kitchen hygiene, food safety compliance, stock control and team coaching, working in line with the standards set by the GM and Head Chef.

Skills

Leadership

Fast-paced cooking

Team collaboration

Fresh culinary trends

Sourdough baking

Job description

SOUS CHEF – NEW CONCEPT LAUNCH!

Location: Pod Cafe, Portreath Beach, Cornwall Position: Sous Chef Hours: 25–35 hours per week to start Salary: Competitive / negotiable depending on experience, plus tips and perks Job Type: Part-time, with the opportunity to transition to full-time

An Exciting New Chapter at Pod Cafe!

Overlooking the sand and surf at Portreath Beach, Pod Cafe is embarking on an ambitious transformation! We’re undergoing a refurbishment and rolling out an exciting new concept in two distinct phases.

STAGE 1 – LAUNCHING FIRST

Daytime Aussie brunch vibes with a vibrant, health-conscious twist. Think fresh colours, sourdough, colourful bowls, creative baking and feel-good fuel for beachgoers, locals and surfers.

STAGE 2 – COMING SPRING 2027

Evening handcrafted artisan sourdough pizzas with inventive toppings and fresh, high-quality ingredients.

If you’re a passionate, creative and cool-headed chef looking to join a tight-knit management structure and help steer this transformation from day one, this is your moment!

The Role

Working in close partnership with both our Head Chef and General Manager (GM), you’ll form part of the core leadership trio driving kitchen operations, food quality and team culture across the venue.

Starting at 25–35 hours per week, you’ll have immediate input into our daytime brunch launch, baking recipes and kitchen systems, with the opportunity to expand your role as our evening pizza offering launches next year.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Teamwork: Work hand-in-hand with the Head Chef and GM to align front-of-house and back-of-house operations, ensuring seamless service and a great team atmosphere.
• Cool Head on the Line: Step up alongside the Head Chef during high-volume, fast-paced rushes, maintaining control, kitchen flow and exceptional food standards.
• Menu Development & Baking: Collaborate with the Head Chef on fresh brunch ideas, in-house baking recipes, healthy bowls and innovative daily specials, while helping develop sourdough pizza recipes ahead of Stage 2.
• Low-Waste Ethos: Champion intelligent kitchen practices, minimising food waste, managing stock efficiently and creating thoughtful, health-conscious dishes.
• Operations & Standards: Help oversee kitchen hygiene, food safety compliance, stock control and team coaching, working in line with the standards set by the GM and Head Chef.

What We Are Looking For – Absolute Must-Haves

• Fast-Paced & Fresh Food Experience: You thrive in high-volume, fast-turnaround environments without sacrificing quality. When the café gets seriously busy, you bring a cool head, calm focus and clear communication.
• Collaborative Leadership Style: You enjoy working side-by-side with the Head Chef and GM to solve problems, streamline preparation and motivate the kitchen team.
• Genuine Food Passion: You live and breathe food, stay ahead of modern culinary trends and love menu creation and recipe testing.
• Creativity & Healthy Focus: You’re passionate about fresh ingredients, low-waste cooking and vibrant, healthy food with an Aussie brunch flair.
• Baking / Sourdough Interest: Experience with baking and sourdough is a bonus, but a genuine eagerness to learn and develop these skills is equally welcome.

What We Offer

• A Key Management Role: Work directly alongside the Head Chef and GM to shape a brand-new concept and menu from the ground up.
• Stunning Location: Work right on the beachfront in beautiful Portreath.
• Growth Potential: Start at 25–35 hours per week, with room to grow as our evening pizza service launches.
• Work/Life Balance: Competitive pay and fair scheduling.
• Staff Perks: Great coffee, delicious food on shift and staff discounts.

Compensation: Competitive salary