Lumberjacks – Near Kingham / Chipping Norton Salary: £30,000 per annum + tips
Accommodation: Provided while employed in the role
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Pattern: 4 working days per week / 3 days off
Work Location: In person About the RoleLumberjacks is a relaxed café and restaurant located on a family-run holiday complex just outside the village of Kingham. We are looking for a hands-on Head Chef to take ownership of our kitchen and lead its day-to-day operation. This is a varied role with a high level of responsibility and autonomy. You will take the lead on food quality, service, ordering, stock control, menu development, kitchen organisation and maintaining standards throughout the operation. We are looking for someone who genuinely takes pride in what they do and wants to have an input into how Lumberjacks develops. We want someone who can bring ideas to the table while understanding the practical and commercial requirements of running a small restaurant and café. Typical Hours of WorkThe role operates across four working days each week:
- Monday: 10:00 – 22:00
- Thursday: 11:00 – 19:00
- Friday: 10:00 – 22:00
- Saturday: 10:00 – 22:00
Three days off each week.
About Lumberjacks
Our operation combines a relaxed café and restaurant environment with a straightforward approach to good-quality, tasty food. The kitchen serves a mixture of lighter café dishes and a full restaurant menu, including grill service. We also operate a takeaway service for guests staying on site. As a small operation, organisation, consistency, teamwork and sensible menu planning are particularly important. We want the Head Chef to have a genuine influence over the food offering and how the operation develops. Key ResponsibilitiesKitchen & Service
- Taking overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen
- Preparing and cooking food during service and leading from the front
- Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and consistency
- Organising preparation and ensuring the kitchen is ready for service
- Managing and supporting other kitchen team members
- Ensuring smooth communication between the kitchen and Front of House
- Maintaining a clean, organised and efficient kitchen
Menu Development & Commercial Management
- Planning and adapting menus alongside management
- Developing new dishes, specials and seasonal menu ideas
- Ordering food and managing supplier relationships
- Managing stock levels, rotation and food waste
- Maintaining sensible portion control and helping manage food margins
- Considering the practicality, popularity and commercial viability of dishes when developing menus
Standards & Compliance
- Maintaining high standards of food hygiene and food safety
- Ensuring allergen procedures and information are accurate and followed
- Ensuring kitchen health and safety requirements are maintained
- Maintaining appropriate kitchen records and procedures
- Helping develop and improve kitchen systems as the business grows
- Taking responsibility for ensuring food safety procedures are understood and followed by the kitchen team
Wider Management & Development of Lumberjacks
As Head Chef, you will be an important part of the wider management and development of Lumberjacks, not solely responsible for what happens behind the kitchen door. This will include:
- Working closely with management and Front of House to continually improve the overall guest experience
- Providing input and ideas on how Front of House and kitchen operations can work better together
- Helping maintain good communication and standards across the wider Lumberjacks team
- Sharing ideas for promotions, specials, events and other opportunities to develop the business
- Supporting our marketing and social media activity by highlighting new dishes, specials or particularly well-presented food that would be suitable for photography and promotion
- Being engaged with the wider direction and development of Lumberjacks as the business grows
Flexibility & Management Responsibility
The normal working pattern for this role is four days per week, with three days off. As Head Chef and a senior member of the team, we do however ask for a reasonable degree of flexibility when genuinely required. On occasion, this may include helping provide or organise kitchen cover during staff holidays, sickness or unexpected absence. We do not expect this to routinely interfere with your time away from work, but we are looking for someone who understands the responsibility that comes with leading a small hospitality operation and who is willing to support the team when exceptional circumstances arise. About YouWe are looking for someone who:
- Has experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or in another role involving significant kitchen responsibility
- Is confident taking ownership of a small kitchen
- Is hands-on and comfortable cooking throughout service
- Has experience working with fresh food
- Can organise ordering, stock, preparation and service effectively
- Has a good understanding of food hygiene, allergens and kitchen safety
- Can lead, support and develop other team members
- Is creative and enjoys contributing new ideas
- Understands the commercial realities of running a restaurant
- Communicates well with Front of House and wider management
- Is organised, reliable and calm during busy periods
- Takes pride in maintaining consistently high standards
- Wants to have a genuine influence on the development of the business
Qualifications
A Level 3 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification, or equivalent, would be highly desirable due to the management responsibilities of the role. Candidates without a current Level 3 qualification may still be considered where they can demonstrate strong food safety knowledge, experience and the ability to undertake further training where required.
Driving - Due to our rural location just outside Kingham, a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle would be beneficial, although this is not essential.
Accommodation - Accommodation is provided as part of the employment package for the duration of your employment in this role. This may particularly suit someone looking to relocate to the Cotswolds/Oxfordshire area or who would benefit from living close to their place of work. Full details regarding the accommodation and its terms will be provided as part of the employment agreement. What We Offer
- £30,000 annual salary
- Accommodation provided while employed in the role
- Tips
- Permanent, full-time employment
- Four-day working week with three days off
- Statutory holiday entitlement
- Statutory sick pay
- Supportive, family-run working environment
- Genuine responsibility and autonomy within the kitchen
- Opportunity to influence menus and the development of Lumberjacks
- Long-term opportunity to develop alongside a growing business
If you are a hands-on chef looking for a role where you can take responsibility, bring your own ideas and play an important part in developing a growing restaurant, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
