Kitchen Manager / Head Chef
Down The Hatch – EdinburghFull-timeSalary: From £36-39k per year + equal share of tips + bonus structure
Down The Hatch is an independent Canadian-inspired restaurant in Edinburgh, known for big flavours, generous portions and a busy, fast-paced service.
We’re looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager / Head Chef to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of our kitchen and lead our kitchen team.
This is a hands-on role. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable leading busy services while also taking ownership of the operational side of the kitchen, including staffing, ordering, stock, food costs, labour and standards.
The Role
You’ll be responsible for:
- Leading and managing the kitchen team and maintaining a positive, professional working environment
- Running busy services and ensuring food is consistently prepared and presented to our standards
- Managing kitchen rotas and labour costs
- Ordering, stock control and supplier management
- Monitoring food costs, portion control and waste
- Maintaining excellent food hygiene, cleanliness and health & safety standards
- Training and developing members of the kitchen team
- Working closely with the front-of-house management team
- Helping develop new dishes, weekly specials and seasonal menu items
- Working with the owner on menu development and improvements to kitchen operations
- Taking responsibility for the overall performance and organisation of the kitchen
About You
We’re looking for someone with previous experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or experienced Sous Chef who is ready to take the next step.
You should be:
- Comfortable working in a busy, high-volume kitchen
- A confident and fair team leader
- Well organised and able to stay in control during busy services
- Experienced with food costing, stock management and kitchen labour
- Consistent when it comes to food quality and presentation
- Confident with food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance
- Able to train, motivate and develop a kitchen team
- Commercially aware and understand that running a successful kitchen is about both great food and good cost control
Experience in casual dining, high-volume restaurants or a similar environment would be particularly useful.
What We Offer
Equal share of tips, typically worth an additional £2.50–£3.00+ per hour
Bonus structure
You’ll also have genuine input into the food we serve. We run regular weekly specials and like giving the kitchen team room to come up with new ideas rather than simply following the same menu year after year.
Down The Hatch is an independent business with a well-established customer base and a strong identity. We’re looking for someone who wants to take ownership of the kitchen, build a good team around them and play an important part in where the restaurant goes next.
Job Type: Full-time
If you’re an experienced kitchen leader looking for a role with responsibility, creative input and the opportunity to make the kitchen your own, we’d like to hear from you.
Find us on Instagram: @downthehatchdiner
Pay: £36,000.00-£39,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
