Pizza Chef / Kitchen Lead
Coopers wine bar
The role
We are an independent, wine-led bar in Cornwall looking for an experienced Pizza Chef / Kitchen Lead to create and run a focused, high-quality pizza offer.
This is not a large brigade role. You will have real ownership over the kitchen: helping shape the dough, menu, prep systems, suppliers and seasonal specials, while working closely with the owner to build food sales in a relaxed, quality-led wine-bar setting.
We are looking for someone who takes pride in great pizza, works cleanly and calmly in service, and wants the chance to build something rather than simply follow a chain menu.
What you’ll do
- Lead the day-to-day pizza/general kitchen during service
- Develop and maintain a consistent dough and fermentation process
- Help create a concise core menu plus seasonal pizza specials
- Set up prep lists, portion control and food-safety systems
- Manage ordering, stock rotation and waste
- Keep food cost and gross-profit targets on track
- Work with the front-of-house team on pizza-and-wine pairings and occasional events
- Train and support future kitchen team members as the offer grows
- Maintain excellent cleanliness, allergen awareness and food hygiene standards
What we’re looking for
Essential:
- Proven experience making high-quality pizza in a professional kitchen
- Confidence with dough preparation, stretching, topping, oven management and service flow
- Good understanding of food hygiene, allergens, stock control and portioning
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of a small kitchen
- A calm, positive and reliable approach during busy service
- Availability for evening and weekend shifts
Desirable:
- Experience with sourdough or long-fermentation dough
- Experience opening or developing a pizza offer
- Interest in wine, local produce and seasonal menus
- Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate
Hours and rota
- 35-40 hours per week, initially
- Predominantly evening service, including weekends
- Consistent rota agreed in advance
- Aim for two consecutive days off where possible
- No Sundays
- No split shifts where possible
Pay and packageGuaranteed pay
- £[14–16] per hour, depending on experience
- Paid holiday
- Workplace pension
- Staff meal on shift
- Staff discount
- Wine training and tasting opportunities
Pizza sales bonus
You will receive a transparent monthly bonus linked to pizza sales:
- £1 for every pizza sold above pizzas per calendar month 250
- Profit share of food sales
The target will be reviewed after the first three months, once we have established a fair trading baseline.
Pay progression
- Formal review after 90 days
- As the kitchen grows, there is potential to move into a broader Kitchen Manager role with additional responsibility and a further performance/profit-share arrangement
Why this role is different
- Real creative input into the pizza offer
- Freedom to develop dough, specials and service systems
- A small, supportive independent business rather than a chain kitchen
- A chance to build a kitchen operation from the ground up
- A wine-led environment with scope for pizza-and-wine events
- Clear, written targets and a straightforward route to higher earnings
How to apply
Please send a CV and a short note telling us:
- Your pizza experience and preferred style of pizza
- What dough process you enjoy working with
- Your availability
- Why this role appeals to you
Send applications to: [email protected]
We welcome applications from experienced pizza chefs, chefs looking to step into their first kitchen-lead role, and strong independent operators who want to help build a quality food offer.
Pay: £14.00-£16.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
