£45000–£50000 yearly
Full-time
London
About the Role We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and hands-on Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen operations. This is a key leadership position, responsible not only for day-to-day service but also for shaping the culinary identity, maintaining standards, and supporting future growth. The restaurant operates Monday to Sunday, with working hours of approximately forty to forty-five hours per week based on a rota. The Head Chef will report directly to the ownership and will have full day-to-day autonomy over the kitchen operation. The kitchen delivers lunch and dinner service with a seafood-led Italian menu focused on simplicity, quality ingredients, and precise execution. Service is high quality but manageable, with an emphasis on consistency, attention to detail, and calm professional standards. Key Responsibilities • Lead and manage all aspects of the kitchen operation, • Design and deliver seasonal Italian menus with a strong focus on fresh seafood, • Prepare and oversee high-quality Italian dishes, including Neapolitan-style pizza dough, with experience using a gas pizza oven, • Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and authenticity, • Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and HACCP requirements, • Drive consistency, efficiency, and service excellence, particularly during busy services, • Recruit, train, develop, and motivate the kitchen team, fostering a positive, professional, and respectful kitchen culture, • Manage ordering, stock control, food costs, and waste control, • Work closely with ownership and management to ensure the food offering aligns with commercial objectives, • Contribute to the long-term development and potential expansion of the restaurant The Ideal Candidate • Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally within Italian and seafood-focused kitchens, • Strong knowledge of Italian cuisine, seafood handling, and seasonality, • Confident and skilled in Neapolitan pizza dough preparation and baking using a gas oven, • Strong leadership, organisational, and cost-control skills, • Excellent understanding of food safety, hygiene, and HACCP systems, • Calm, reliable, and consistent under pressure, • Effective communicator with both kitchen and front-of-house teams Our Values We are committed to creating a working environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered. We operate a professional kitchen built on mutual respect and do not tolerate aggressive or abusive behaviour. We celebrate diversity and believe that different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthen both our team and our business.
Nick R.Active 3 years ago
