Sous Chef - Hatfield

Equipment Sales & Service Limited.; Hatfield; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement (20 days + BH)

Free parking

Free meals & hot drinks

Free laundry service

Paid overtime over 40 hours

Access to Hatfield House & discounted/

Job summary

Restaurant Associates at Hatfield House is seeking a skilled Sous Chef to support the Head Chef across Coach House Kitchen, Old Palace, and Riding School events. You will lead kitchen operations, motivate a team of five, and ensure top-quality dishes while upholding strict hygiene standards.

You will manage rotas, stock, and service support for visitor dining and large events, maintaining high standards across all outlets in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in professional kitchens with management experience.
• Hands-on, proactive leader who motivates a kitchen team.
• Strong focus on hygiene, food safety and health & safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Chef in leading kitchen operations across multiple venues.
• Lead in Head Chef's absence and manage day-to-day kitchen activities.
• Oversee rota management, stock control and ordering.
• Prepare and cook high-quality dishes for visitors and events.
• Support catering for visitor dining and large events at Hatfield House.

Skills

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Job description

Are you an experienced Sous Chef looking to take the next step in your culinary career? Do you want to work in a historic and inspiring environment, supporting a Head Chef to deliver a high-quality food experience to visitors and events at Hatfield House? We're looking for a Sous Chef to join the team, assisting in managing kitchen operations and ensuring an exceptional dining experience across multiple outlets., As Sous Chef at Hatfield House, you will support the Head Chef in leading the culinary operation across Coach House Kitchen, Old Palace, and Riding School events. This role involves helping manage kitchen teams, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, maintaining high food standards, and stepping in to lead in the Head Chef's absence. Your responsibilities will cover visitor dining, large-scale events, and high-quality food preparation. You will play a key role in operational efficiency, kitchen management, and the delivery of consistently excellent dishes for all visitors and events. The successful candidate will be proactive, hands-on, and able to motivate the kitchen team, while maintaining strict adherence to food safety and health & safety standards.

What We Offer:

• 20 days holiday + bank holidays
• Free parking & easy access from the train station
• Free meals & hot drinks while on shift
• Free laundry cleaning
• Paid overtime over 40 hours
• Free access to Hatfield House and discounted events
• Compass reward scheme
• Supportive, values-driven team culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in a continuously growing sector, Kitchen Management: Assist in managing kitchen operations, leading a team of 5, ensuring consistent quality and efficiency across all outlets
• Food Safety & Compliance: Maintain high standards of hygiene, food safety, and health & safety
• Team Leadership: Manage and motivate kitchen staff, covering rota management and leading in the Head Chef's absence
• Stock & Inventory: Oversee stock management, ordering, and waste control
• Preparation & Cooking: Prepare and cook high-quality dishes for visitors and events
• Service Support: Assist in plating and service, ensuring high-quality presentation
• Event Support: Deliver excellent catering for events at the Riding School and Old Palace
  Minimum 3 years' experience in professional kitchens, with management experience
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Knowledge of food safety, allergens, and health & safety regulations
• Ability to manage rotas, stock, and kitchen operations efficiently
• Creative, adaptable, and capable of working in a fast-paced environment
• Passionate about food, hospitality, and delivering a positive visitor experience
  Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York.

Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke caf s and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large-scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website.