Head Chef

Head Chef – £50,000–£60,000 per annum Job Type: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £50,000–£60,000 per annum Location: Bath, Somerset About the Role We are seeking an experienced, passionate and highly motivated Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and oversee all aspects of kitchen operations. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious culinary professional with exceptional leadership skills, creativity and strong commercial awareness to take ownership of a busy, established restaurant kitchen.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering consistently outstanding food, developing innovative menus, managing kitchen performance and inspiring a talented team to achieve the highest standards. We are looking for a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in attention to detail and understands the importance of balancing exceptional food quality with operational efficiency and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership & Management Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen brigade, fostering a positive, professional and high-performing working environment. Oversee all daily kitchen operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service across lunch, dinner and private dining. Manage kitchen rotas, staffing levels and labour costs while maintaining operational efficiency.

Recruit, train, mentor and develop chefs to ensure consistently high standards. Work closely with restaurant management and front-of-house teams to deliver a seamless guest experience. Take full accountability for kitchen performance, organisation and service standards. Menu Development & Food Quality Lead menu planning, development and implementation, creating exciting seasonal dishes that reflect the restaurant's identity.

Maintain exceptional standards of food preparation, presentation, consistency and flavour. Ensure all kitchen sections are fully prepared and organised ahead of service. Develop and execute menus for private dining, special occasions and large-scale events. Maintain strict recipe specifications, portion control and presentation standards.

Ensure all dietary requirements and allergens are handled safely and professionally. Financial Management & Stock Control Take responsibility for food costs, purchasing, stock management and kitchen profitability. Monitor gross profit margins and achieve agreed food cost targets. Manage supplier relationships, negotiate competitive pricing and maintain ingredient quality.

Conduct regular stocktakes and maintain accurate inventory records. Minimise food waste through effective ordering, stock rotation and production planning. Identify opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency and profitability without compromising quality. Food Safety & Compliance Ensure full compliance with food hygiene, HACCP, health and safety and allergen regulations.

Maintain exceptional cleanliness and organisation throughout all kitchen areas. Oversee food storage, temperature monitoring, labelling and stock rotation. Ensure kitchen equipment is maintained and all operational procedures are followed. Maintain a safe, compliant and professional working environment.

About You

We are looking for an experienced culinary leader who combines creativity, strong operational management and a genuine passion for hospitality. Essential Requirements Proven experience as a Head Chef in a busy, high-quality restaurant environment. Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, train and develop a kitchen brigade.

Excellent culinary knowledge, technical ability and attention to detail. Experience in menu development, costing and maintaining food quality. Strong commercial awareness, including food cost management, stock control and profitability. Ability to perform effectively under pressure while maintaining consistently high standards.

Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills. Thorough knowledge of UK food safety, hygiene and allergen legislation. A proactive, hands-on management style with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

What We Offer

Competitive salary of £50,000–£60,000 per annum , depending on experience. Full-time, permanent employment. Opportunity to take ownership of kitchen operations and menu development. Supportive senior management and an established restaurant environment. Career progression opportunities within a growing independent restaurant group.

The opportunity to shape the restaurant's culinary direction and make a genuine impact on its success. Why Join Us? We are an ambitious, independent restaurant group committed to delivering exceptional food, memorable hospitality and outstanding guest experiences. We believe a successful kitchen is built on strong leadership, teamwork, creativity and consistency.

We value individuals who take ownership of their responsibilities, lead by example and are passionate about continuously improving standards. This is an opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to play a key role in the continued success and development of our restaurant. Apply Now If you are a passionate, experienced and commercially minded Head Chef looking for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV and join a team dedicated to culinary excellence.