Head Chef / Development Chef- Help build an exciting new food brand from the ground up
Location: Nottingham
We’re launching a new food brand in Nottingham, and we’re looking for an ambitious Head Chef / Development Chef who wants to be involved from day one.
This isn’t simply a role running an established kitchen.
You’ll have the opportunity to help design the menu's, build the kitchen systems, develop the team and create the standards that will eventually be rolled out across multiple locations.
Our long-term ambition is to build scalable food brands that can grow into multiple sites and, ultimately, franchising.
If you’re the kind of chef who gets excited about creating dishes, improving systems and building something that can grow, this could be a genuinely exciting opportunity.
Forkk It
A modern comfort food, with a health twist concept focused on premium burgers, loaded fries, jacket potatoes, wraps, pasta and grilled food, using fresh ingredients and delivering generous, high-quality & nutritious food.
The Role
We’re looking for an experienced Head Chef / Development Chef to help shape the food operation across the brand.
You’ll work closely with the owners to turn the concept into a profitable, repeatable and scalable kitchen operations
There will be genuine creative freedom, but also a strong commercial focus.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Creating and developing the menus for the brand
- Developing and testing recipes
- Establishing portion sizes and plating standards
- Food costing and maintaining target GP margins
- Supplier sourcing and product selection
- Negotiating with suppliers where appropriate
- Designing efficient kitchen workflows and systems
- Creating prep lists, production systems and kitchen procedures
- Stock control and reducing food waste
- Maintaining food quality and consistency
- Developing recipe cards and operational manuals
- Training and developing kitchen teams
- Implementing food safety, allergen and hygiene standards
- Monitoring quality, portion control and presentation
- Supporting the opening of future locations
- Helping create systems that can eventually be replicated across multiple sites
The goal isn't just to create great food.
It's to create great food that can be delivered consistently, efficiently and profitably as the business grows.
Who We're Looking For:
We’re looking for someone who combines creativity with commercial and operational thinking.
You’ll ideally have:
- Previous Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef or Development Chef experience
- Strong knowledge of food costing, GP and portion control
- Experience developing menus and recipes
- A genuine passion for creating food customers want to come back for
- Excellent organisation and attention to detail
- Strong leadership and training skills
- High standards around food quality and presentation
- The ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure
- A good understanding of kitchen systems and operational efficiency
- A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset
- The ambition to help build something rather than simply manage an existing operation
Most importantly, we're looking for someone who wants to take ownership and have a genuine influence on the business.
Experience That Could Be Relevant
Experience within high-volume, quality-focused food businesses would be valuable.
This could include backgrounds such as:
- Five Guys
- Loungers
- Cosy Club
- Boston Tea Party
- Hickory's Smokehouse
- Turtle Bay
- Dishoom
- Premium independent cafés
- Premium burger or casual dining restaurants
- Other well-run, multi-site food businesses
The specific brand on your CV isn't important.
We're interested in what you can actually bring to the role: your food, your standards, your commercial understanding and your ability to build systems and teams.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary - Negotiable for the right candidate
- Performance-related bonus
- Genuine creative freedom
- The opportunity to shape two new brands from the beginning
- Direct involvement in menu and product development
- Career progression as the business expands
- The opportunity to help launch future locations
- Potential future profit share or equity for the right person, based on performance and long-term involvement
- Supportive owners who care about quality and want to build something substantial
How to Apply
Please send us:
- Your CV
- A short introduction about yourself and why the opportunity interests you
- Photos of dishes or menus you've developed
- References
We'd also love to hear about a dish, menu or kitchen system you're particularly proud of and why.
This Could Be More Than Your Next Job
We’re not looking for someone simply to run a kitchen.
We’re looking for someone who wants to help build the kitchen operation behind the new food brand.
If you’re an ambitious chef who wants creative input, genuine responsibility and the chance to leave your mark on something from day one, we’d love to hear from you.
Come and help us build the next winning food brand to come out of Nottingham
Pay: £27,693.69-£49,488.20 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
