Deadwood Smokehouse is looking for a reliable, organised and hands-on Head Chef / Kitchen Manager to take ownership of our Nantwich kitchen.
This role would suit an experienced chef who is confident running a busy casual-dining kitchen, leading a small team and maintaining high standards of food quality, cleanliness and organisation.
We specialise in smoked meats, burgers, ribs, steaks and American-style comfort food. Smokehouse experience would be useful, but it is not essential. Reliability, leadership and the ability to run a controlled kitchen are more important.
The role
You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, including:
- Leading and supporting the kitchen team during service
- Ensuring food is prepared and served consistently to specification
- Organising daily and weekly preparation
- Managing stock levels, ordering, rotation and waste
- Maintaining excellent food safety and cleaning standards
- Completing and monitoring food safety records
- Training and developing junior kitchen team members
- Communicating clearly with the front-of-house team
- Helping improve kitchen systems, recipes and procedures
- Controlling portion sizes and food costs
- Ensuring the kitchen is ready for service and properly closed down each day
This is a hands-on position. You will be expected to cook during service as well as manage the kitchen.
What we are looking for
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef or strong Senior Chef
- A reliable and professional approach
- Strong organisation and preparation skills
- Good knowledge of food safety and allergen procedures
- The ability to lead calmly during busy services
- Experience managing stock, ordering and waste
- The ability to train staff and maintain clear standards
- Pride in producing consistent, well-presented food
A Level 3 Food Safety qualification would be an advantage, although training can be arranged for the right candidate.
What we offer
- £13.50-£16.00 per hour, depending on experience
- Full-time, permanent position
- A genuine opportunity to take ownership of the kitchen
- Support from the owners and operations management
- Clear recipes, specifications and operating procedures
- The opportunity to help improve and develop the menu
- A small team where your contribution will have a real impact
We are not looking for someone who simply wants to cover shifts. We need someone dependable who wants to take responsibility, build a strong kitchen team and help us deliver consistently good food.
To apply, please send your CV along with a brief message explaining your current role, availability and why you would be a good fit for Deadwood Smokehouse.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £13.50-£16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Nantwich CW5 5LL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Leadership: 2 years (preferred)
- Cooking: 3 years (preferred)
- Kitchen: 5 years (preferred)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Location:
- Nantwich CW5 5LL (preferred)
Work Location: In person
