Kitchen Manager

Lead the kitchen. Inspire the team. Deliver unforgettable food.

We're looking for a passionate and driven Kitchen Manager to take ownership of a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen and lead a talented back-of-house team to success.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in service, loves developing people, and takes real pride in food quality, safety, and consistency.

As Kitchen Manager, you'll be responsible for delivering outstanding food on every plate, every service. You'll lead from the front during peak trading times, set the standards for quality and hygiene, and create an environment where your team feels supported, motivated, and proud of what they do.

You'll work closely with the front-of-house team to ensure smooth, well-timed service and a memorable guest experience.

Food Quality & Service

• Ensuring fresh, high-quality food is prepared and served to specification at all times
• Leading the kitchen during busy services to deliver efficient, well-paced operations
• Coaching and developing your team to consistently deliver excellent food
• Personally checking food quality before service
• Handling complaints professionally and preventing repeat issues

Health, Safety & Brand Standards

• Maintaining 5-star food safety standards at all times
• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, allergen control, health & safety legislation
• Managing cleaning schedules, stock rotation (FIFO), labelling, and allergen processes
• Proactively maintaining kitchen equipment and escalating issues promptly

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruiting, onboarding, and training the right people for the right roles
• Building strong engagement, retention, and morale within the kitchen team
• Conducting performance reviews and supporting development and progression
• Managing rotas effectively to meet demand while staying within labour targets
• Handling absence and employee relations issues fairly and confidently

Stock & Financial Control

• Managing food costs, labour, waste, and margin performance
• Ordering effectively to ensure menu availability while controlling waste
• Reviewing performance against KPIs and implementing practical improvements
• Ensuring accurate stock, cash, and premises security

Essential Experience & Skills

• Previous experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef, or Senior Chef
• A genuine passion for food and for developing people
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities
• Confident decision-making and the ability to work under pressure
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• IT-literate and comfortable working with KPIs, sales, waste, and labour data
• Resilient, adaptable, and confident leading change

• A leadership role with real influence and autonomy
• The opportunity to shape, mentor, and grow a committed kitchen team
• A fast-paced, people-focused environment where quality matters
• A business that values standards, development, and strong leadership

If you're ready to own your kitchen, inspire your team, and deliver food you're proud of, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and take the next step in your kitchen leadership career.