Job Description: Senior Sous Chef
Karen Rhodes Catering | Lake District
£37,000 per year | Full Time
We are growing fast, and we are looking for the right person to grow with us.
Karen Rhodes Catering is a premium Lake District catering company delivering exceptional food at weddings, corporate events and private occasions across some of the most beautiful venues in the country. We have built a reputation for food that genuinely stands out, a team that cares deeply about what it does, and a standard that never slips.
2026 has been a big year for us so far and 2027 looks like it could be our best yet. As we scale the business, we need a Senior Sous Chef who can support our Head Chef and the wider kitchen team, sharing the load and helping us deliver at the level our clients expect as our event diary continues to grow.
What you will actually be doing
You will work closely with our Head Chef, supporting the kitchen team across a busy and varied event calendar, covering weddings, corporate hospitality and private dining at premium venues across the Lake District and beyond.
This role sits between our Head Chef and the rest of the team and is the person we trust to run the kitchen when the Head Chef is off. That means taking full responsibility for the team on those days, along with the day to day compliance and organisation that keeps our kitchen running properly: temperature checks, daily orders, cleanliness and food safety standards, correct labelling, and allergen management.
The role is a genuine mix of event days (day and evening shifts) and kitchen preparation days (usually (9-6), perfect for anyone currently working every evening who wants more of a work life balance. We close over Christmas and New Year, giving the whole team a proper break at the end of a busy season.
One thing worth knowing about us is that our kitchen team has been working together for a number of years. You will be joining a team that is already highly capable, not one that needs building from scratch.
What we are looking for
We are looking for someone who is confident leading and who holds high standards. Someone who is calm under pressure, decisive when it matters and genuinely invested in the people around them. You communicate clearly, you give feedback well and you understand that the success of a kitchen is built on working as a team.
You will have experience in catering, events or high volume hospitality. You will be comfortable running a service and making decisions. You will have a genuine interest in food and a passion for quality ingredients and great food. You enjoy cooking a wide variety of dishes, you are not scared to try something new, you like variety rather than doing the same thing on repeat and you adapt well to change.
You will be confident taking charge of the kitchen and the team in the Head Chef's absence, and you will take food safety and compliance seriously.
What we offer
- A salary of £37,000 per year.
- A 45 hour per week contract with a genuine mix of event days and preparation days, working on three evenings per week.
- We close over Christmas and New Year (for a minimum of 10 days) so you can count on a proper break when the season ends.
- 28 days holiday
- Company pension scheme
- A close knit, talented kitchen team with years of consistency behind them.
- The option of a company car in future via a salary sacrifice scheme.
The interview process
Please send your CV and a short covering note telling us why this role is the right fit for you to [email protected]
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £37,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
