Job Overview
Are you an experienced Head Chef or strong Sous Chef looking for your next challenge?
We are looking for a talented, hands-on Head Chef to join our busy independent brunch café in Birmingham.
We are a growing café serving quality brunch, breakfast, burgers, grills, sandwiches, salads and modern café dishes, with a strong focus on fresh ingredients, presentation and consistency.
This is an exciting opportunity for a chef who wants to take ownership of a kitchen, develop dishes, lead a team and make a real impact.
THE ROLE
As Head Chef, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen and ensure that every dish leaving the pass meets our standards.
You will be responsible for:
- Leading and motivating the kitchen team
- Running busy breakfast and brunch services
- Preparing and cooking to a consistently high standard
- Maintaining excellent food presentation and portion control
- Developing and improving our brunch menu
- Creating and maintaining recipes and preparation guides
- Managing kitchen prep and daily mise en place
- Ordering food and managing stock levels
- Controlling food costs and minimising waste
- Maintaining high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness
- Managing allergens and ensuring correct procedures are followed
- Training and developing junior kitchen staff
- Organising kitchen rotas and daily responsibilities
- Monitoring food quality, portion sizes and consistency
- Ensuring opening and closing procedures are followed
- Working closely with management to improve kitchen performance
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We want someone who is passionate about food but equally passionate about running an efficient kitchen.
You should have:
- Proven experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef or Kitchen Manager
- Strong experience in brunch, breakfast, café or casual dining
- Experience working in a busy service environment
- Excellent knowledge of food preparation and cooking
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Good knowledge of food safety and HACCP
- Excellent understanding of allergens
- Experience managing and training kitchen staff
- Good stock control and food-cost awareness
- The ability to remain calm and organised during very busy services
- A hands-on approach and strong work ethic
THE TYPE OF CHEF WE WANT
We are looking for someone who can lead from the front.
You won't be sitting in the office while the team is struggling on the line.
We need a chef who is happy to:
Prep. Cook. Run the pass. Train the team. Solve problems. Check the stock. Improve the menu.
Someone who sees a busy Saturday brunch service as a challenge rather than a problem.
If you take pride in sending out beautiful, consistent plates quickly, you'll fit in well with us.
WHAT WE OFFER
- £35,000–£40,000 per annum, depending on experience
- Performance and salary review
- Opportunity to have genuine input into the menu
- Opportunity to develop and grow with an independent business
- Supportive management
- A professional but friendly working environment
- The opportunity to build and lead your own kitchen team
- Long-term opportunity for progression
EXPERIENCE WE PARTICULARLY VALUE
Experience in any of the following would be highly desirable:
Brunch • Breakfast • Specialty Coffee Cafés • All-Day Dining • Burgers • Grills • Modern British • Casual Dining • High-Volume Service
IMPORTANT
This is a hands-on kitchen leadership role.
Candidates must be comfortable working during busy service and leading by example.
We are looking for someone who wants to build something, not simply work another kitchen job.
INTERESTED?
Pay: £35,000.00-£41,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
