Head Chef - 40hours per week
Are you a Head Chef who takes real pride in building a kitchen culture as much as delivering exceptional food?
Do you enjoy leading a team, shaping menus, and running a kitchen where standards, creativity and teamwork go hand in hand?
At YOFI, the restaurant at Brighton & Hove Jewish Community (BNJC), we are looking for a talented and experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen and help deliver high-quality, seasonal food in a unique community setting.
About YOFI at BNJC
YOFI is a vibrant kosher restaurant located within the Brighton & Hove Jewish Community Space in Hove.
The restaurant serves residents, visitors and the wider public, and sits within a dynamic site that includes:
- Residential apartments and guest accommodation
- Event and community spaces
- Nursery provision
- Gym and wellness facilities
- Co-working spaces
- Community programming and celebrations
Our kitchen combines professional standards with a warm, community-focused atmosphere. We are building a team that takes pride in quality ingredients, well-executed dishes and thoughtful hospitality.
While we operate under kosher dietary laws, we welcome chefs from all backgrounds who are interested in working within this culinary tradition and helping deliver a distinctive dining experience.
About the Role
As Head Chef, you will take overall responsibility for the leadership, management and performance of the BNJC kitchen.
You will lead and inspire the kitchen, drive menu development, and ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service across all restaurant and event operations.
This role combines hands-on kitchen leadership with strategic oversight, ensuring the kitchen runs efficiently while continuing to evolve creatively.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Leading the Kitchen Team
- Managing and motivating the entire kitchen brigade
- Creating a professional, respectful and high-performing kitchen culture
- Recruiting, training and developing kitchen staff
- Managing rotas, performance standards and team development
Culinary Leadership
- Designing seasonal, creative and fully kosher-compliant menus
- Maintaining consistent standards of taste, presentation and quality
- Driving innovation while maintaining operational efficiency
Kitchen Operations
- Overseeing all food preparation and service across restaurant and events
- Managing stock control, supplier relationships and food cost management
- Ensuring portion control and waste reduction
Compliance & Standards
- Ensuring strict adherence to kosher dietary laws in coordination with kosher supervision
- Maintaining full compliance with food safety legislation, HACCP and COSHH
- Ensuring kitchen equipment is maintained and used safely
Collaboration & Service
- Working closely with front-of-house management to deliver seamless service
- Supporting event catering and community programming across BNJC
- Maintaining a calm, organised and professional kitchen environment during busy services
What We’re Looking For
Essential:
- Professional culinary qualification (NVQ Level 3 or equivalent) or strong senior-level culinary experience
- Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a professional kitchen
- At least 2 years in a senior leadership role (Sous Chef or Head Chef)
- Strong knowledge of kosher dietary laws and experience working in a kosher kitchen
- Proven experience managing kitchen budgets, GP and stock control
- Strong food safety knowledge (HACCP, COSHH)
- Excellent leadership and organisational skills
- Ability to lead calmly and effectively during high-pressure service
Desirable:
- Experience in high-volume service and event catering
- Creative and commercially minded approach to menu development
- Passion for mentoring and developing emerging chefs
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and busy service periods
Why Join YOFI?
- Lead and shape a professional kitchen within a unique community setting
- Opportunity to influence menu development and culinary direction
- Work within a supportive leadership team across BNJC
- Build and develop a kitchen team committed to quality and collaboration
This role is ideal for a chef who takes pride not only in the food leaving the pass, but in the culture and standards of the kitchen behind it.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Gym membership
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
