Job Description:
Job Title – Head Chef/General manager
Pay – £38k plus KPI bonus plus share of tips
Start date –As soon as possible
Hours – 42.5 hours working 5 days out of 7 with no evenings.
Location – Summer Café, Malmesbury
Summer Café
We are an independent, high-quality cafe dedicated to premium brunch, coffee, and baked goods.
Our business is growing, and we are looking for an experienced Head Chef/General manager to support the owners and lead our kitchen team. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for maintaining our standards, mentoring the team, and inspiring a positive, high-performing kitchen culture.
We offer:
* Work-life balance with scheduled shifts – NO EVENING WORK
* Competitive salary with performance-based bonus potential
* 28 days holiday
* Share of monthly tips based on hours worked
* Daily lunch
* Free tea & coffee
* Training and career development opportunities
* Opportunity to shape business standards and influence development
You are an accomplished Chef ideally with experience in a café setting. You are passionate about food, a natural leader, and thrive in fast-paced, high-standard environments. You have a "can-do" attitude, excellent mentoring skills, and the ability to maintain and teach the standards we expect across our business.
Main responsibilities:
Operations & Leadership:
* Run the cafe working closely with the Front of House manager
* Ensure food preparation and presentation standards are consistently upheld
* Maintain high standards of food storage and kitchen hygiene across the business
* Train and mentor staff to uphold our operational and culinary standards
* Act as a culture leader, motivating and inspiring your team
* Support the owner in operational management, menu delivery, and team development.
* Be the primary decision-maker on shift and operational issues.
Financial & Commercial Control
Deliver agreed KPIs across
* Sales growth
* Gross profit margin
* Labour cost control
* Plan rotas based on forecasted sales, not guesswork
* Control food costs, waste, and ordering
* Understand that profitability matters as much as quality
People & Team Management
* Manage rotas, holidays, and shift cover
* Set expectations and address performance issues early
* Create a calm, accountable team culture
* Handle day-to-day HR issues and escalation appropriately
Systems & Organisation
* Use scheduling, stock, and reporting systems consistently
* Complete weekly KPI tracking and reporting
* Keep the operation organised, predictable, and well planned
What Success Looks Like
* The business runs smoothly without the owner being present
* KPIs are hit without last-minute panic
* The team knows who is in charge operationally
* Problems are solved before they become fires
* The owner can step away with confidence
The Right Person
* Commercially minded, not just food-focused
* Comfortable owning numbers, rotas, and decisions
* Calm under pressure
* Organised, structured, and reliable
* Treats the business as if it were their own
If you are an experienced culinary leader, thrive in high-standard kitchens, and want to grow your career with us, we would love to hear from you
To apply, please email or follow the indeed links.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Discounted or free food
* Employee discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Malmesbury SN16 9AU: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
* Chef: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person