London
Pay: £14.00 - £16.00 per hour Job description: Head Chef – Toast Stores, Springfield Park, SW17 About Toast Stores Toast Stores isn't just another cafe – it's a community hub in the heart of Springfield Park. Founded by two Shannon College graduates, Toast Stores is about more than food and coffee. It's about connection, kindness, and creating daily moments of joy for our guests. We're on an exciting journey of growth and evolution – and we're looking for an ambitious Sous Chef ready to step up as our Head Chef and become a true partner in building something special. What You'll Be Doing Kitchen Leadership & Team Management Lead and inspire the back-of-house (BOH) team with hands-on leadership Work hand-in-hand with our Cafe & Restaurant Manager to ensure BOH and FOH are a well-oiled machine, aligned and communicating effectively Recruit, train, schedule, and develop kitchen staff to reach their potential Build an amazing team culture rooted in accountability, excellence, and genuine passion for food Provide regular feedback, coaching, and support to help your team grow Menu Development & Food Quality Create, develop, and execute seasonal menus that reflect Toast Stores' community-focused ethos Design and deliver exciting supper club experiences that showcase your creativity Maintain consistently high food quality and presentation standards Collaborate with the Cafe Manager and founders on menu planning and new offerings Source quality ingredients and build strong supplier relationships Financial Management & Cost Control Keep a close eye on all kitchen costings – food costs, wastage, and margins Manage budgets with a keen financial awareness and commercial mindset Monitor and control portion sizes, stock levels, and kitchen profitability Work with the founders on financial planning and cost optimization Analyse kitchen performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and margins Operational Excellence Oversee all kitchen operations, from prep to service Ensure strict compliance with food safety, health, and hygiene regulations Manage stock levels, ordering, and inventory control Maintain kitchen equipment and ensure a safe, clean working environment Work with the Cafe Manager to align kitchen output with FOH service flow Business Growth & Development Work closely with the founders as a true partner in growing Toast Stores Drive innovation through seasonal specials, events, and supper clubs Help shape Toast Stores' culinary vision and future direction Build and develop an amazing kitchen team as we expand What We're Looking For Essential Experience & Skills Proven experience as a Sous Chef in a busy cafe, restaurant, or hospitality environment Ready to take the next step into a Head Chef role with genuine partnership potential Strong financial experience managing kitchen budgets, costings, and P&L Demonstrated ability to control costs, reduce wastage, and maintain healthy margins All relevant food safety qualifications (Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene minimum) HACCP knowledge and experience implementing food safety systems Allergen awareness training and confidence managing allergen protocols Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a kitchen team Strong menu development skills with creativity and commercial awareness Confident with stock management, ordering, and supplier negotiations Hands-on leadership style – willing to work alongside your team during service The Toast Stores Personality Genuinely passionate about food – you live and breathe it Looking for a true partnership opportunity, not just another job Excited about building an amazing team and growing with us A leader who leads with empathy, respect, and positivity Flexible and adaptable, thriving in a fast-paced, evolving environment High personal standards – from food quality to kitchen cleanliness Community-minded and excited about building something meaningful Creative flair with the ability to deliver exceptional supper club experiences Practical Requirements Must have the right to work in the UK (valid UK work visa or citizenship) Please consider your commute time to Springfield Park, SW17 – reliability and punctuality are essential for this role Availability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings (especially for supper clubs) Physical ability to work in a high-volume kitchen environment Excellent communication and ability to work collaboratively with the FOH team What We Offer Competitive salary, based on experience A genuine partnership opportunity – grow with us as we expand Direct collaboration with the founders on every aspect of the business The chance to build and shape an amazing kitchen team from the ground up Creative freedom to develop menus and supper club concepts Beautiful working environment in Springfield Park Genuine family atmosphere where your vision and voice truly matter The opportunity to make Toast Stores' kitchen your own Ready to Join Us? If you're an ambitious Sous Chef who lives and breathes food, understands the numbers, and is ready to become a true partner in building something special, we'd love to hear from you. This isn't just a job – it's a chance to grow with Toast Stores, work hand-in-hand with the founders, and create an amazing team and culinary experience together. Toast Stores is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. Job Type: Full-time Work Location: In person
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