The Brand is a startup. We are launching a premium artisan dessert brand in the UK, built around handcrafted tiramisu in 30+ variants — made daily from a ghost kitchen and sold direct to customers through our own retail operation. We are pre-launch. We do not have a team yet. We are building one, starting with this hire.
This is not a role at an established business with a head chef, a sous chef and a prep team underneath you. It is a founding role. You will be the kitchen. You will set up the production process, own the food safety standards, and make 154 portions a day to a quality we are both proud of. In return, you will have genuine ownership of how this operation runs, real input into what we make next, and a clear path to leading a team as we grow.
If that excites you, read on. If you need structure and certainty from day one, this is probably not the right fit — and we would rather be honest about that upfront.
Startup reality: you will work directly with the founder, make decisions daily, and see the direct impact of your work on the product and the business. There is no bureaucracy. There is no established way of doing things. You will help create it.
What You Will Do
From Day One — Production Excellence
- Lead daily production of our full tiramisu range — 154 portions per day, scaled to 20-portion batches using the Silverwood square pan format
- Manage the full production cycle independently — prep, assembly, blast chilling, temperature logging and dispatch preparation
- Own the Friday double-batch run — 308 portions covering Saturday and Sunday retail
- Maintain HACCP compliance with zero exceptions — temperature logs at every stage, accurate date labelling, allergen documentation
- Apply Level 3 food hygiene standards across the kitchen at all times — you set the standard others will follow
- Develop your own production rhythm and efficiencies — we want your ideas on how to improve throughput, reduce waste and raise quality
As We Grow — Building the Operation
- Take ownership of new recipe development as we expand beyond tiramisu into a broader sweet concept
- Help hire, onboard and train junior production staff as volumes increase
- Step into a supervisory role as the second team member joins — setting standards, allocating tasks, quality checking output
- Work with the founder on production planning, ingredient sourcing and supplier relationships
- Input into equipment decisions, kitchen layout and process improvements as the ghost kitchen operation scales
- Represent the brand in any EHO inspections or food safety audits — your documentation should always be inspection-ready
Who We Are Looking For
Experience & Qualifications
- Significant experience in a professional kitchen — pastry, patisserie, dessert production or confectionery strongly preferred
- Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate — this is a firm requirement, not a nice-to-have
- Proven HACCP knowledge and the ability to maintain compliant documentation without being prompted
- Experience working at volume — you understand batch production, yield management and consistency at scale
- Familiarity with blast chilling, cold chain management and dairy-based product handling
- Ideally some exposure to a supervisory or senior kitchen role — leading a section, training juniors, or managing a kitchen in a founder's absence
The Person
- Diligent and detail-oriented — you do things properly because you care, not because you're being watched
- Genuinely passionate about food quality and craft — you notice when something isn't right and you fix it
- Entrepreneurial mindset — you are excited by the idea of building something, not just executing a process
- Self-directed — you can manage a full production day independently without needing constant oversight
- Calm under pressure — a double-batch Friday or a supplier issue doesn't throw you
- Ambitious — you want to grow into a management role and you have the attitude to earn it
The Growth Path
We want to be completely transparent. You will be the first and only production hire at launch. There is no team above or below you — it is you and the founder. That is the reality of joining a startup at the beginning.
What we can offer in return is genuine career trajectory. As volume grows, as new products launch and as the concept expands, the person who built this from the ground up is the natural Head of Production. We are not dangling a vague promotion — we are telling you this is where the role goes if you want it to.
Beyond Tiramisu
Tiramisu is the starting point, not the limit. We are building a premium sweet concept brand and the product range will grow as the business does. The person in this role will have genuine input into what we make next — whether that is seasonal tiramisu variants, cold mousse formats, chilled cheesecake, panna cotta or something else entirely.
If you have a broader dessert skill set and you have been waiting for somewhere to use it commercially, this is that place. A startup is where your ideas actually get made.
What We Offer
- £13.75 – £14.75 per hour depending on experience
- 20-40 hours per week, Monday to Friday — no weekend production shifts
- 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays
- A genuine path to Head of Production as the business scales
- Creative input into new product development from the start
- Close working relationship with the founder — your voice matters
- Founding team status — you will be employee number one and the foundation everything is built on
How to Apply
Send us your CV and a short cover note. We are a startup, so we do not want a formal letter — just tell us honestly what you have made, what you are proud of, and why this role appeals to you. Applications without a cover note will not be considered.
The interview process will include a practical session. We want to see how you work in a kitchen, not just hear about it. We will cover your travel costs.
We are moving quickly. If this is the right role for you, do not sit on it.
The Brand is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.73-£14.75 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
