JOB TITLE: Head Chef REPORTING TO: Head of House and Operations HOURS: 40 per week on a shift basis SALARY: Based upon experience At Waverley Abbey, we dream of providing a world-class hospitality experience – centered around simple excellence. Our goal is to create a 5-star guest experience where every visitor feels valued, cared for and uplifted through outstanding food,exceptional service, and a life-giving welcome. We are now seeking an experienced and visionary Head Chef to lead our culinary team and shape the future of our food offering. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and driven chef to bring innovation, excellence, and leadership to our café and dining offer and restaurant development. The Role The Head Chef will be responsible for developing a distinctive, high-quality, seasonal food offer that excites and attracts guests while overseeing all aspects of kitchen operations. This includes menu planning, team leadership, financial management, and ensuring consistently exceptional food and service standards. You will work closely with the House Manager and Food & Beverage Operations Manager to deliver a memorable dining experience that reflects our values of kindness, excellence, and abundance. Key Responsibilities > Menu Development: Create and maintain seasonal, high-quality menus that meet customer demand, enhance guest satisfaction, and attract new visitors. > Operational Leadership: Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring smooth, efficient, and profitable service across cafe, restaurant & events. > Team Management: Recruit, train, and develop the kitchen team. Conduct appraisals, manage performance, and foster a positive, professional working environment. > Health & Safety: Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health and safety regulations. Train staff in safe practices and maintain high operational standards. > Financial Management: Monitor and control food costs, stock levels, and kitchen margins, delivering profitability without compromising quality. > Collaboration: Work in partnership with Front of House and Marketing/Events teams to ensure seamless service delivery and contribute to the promotion of Waverley Abbey’s hospitality offering. > Guest Focus: Consistently deliver dishes of the highest standard, accommodating dietary requirements and ensuring all guests enjoy an outstanding experience. About You We are looking for an inspirational leader and talented chef who shares our passion for excellence and hospitality. The ideal candidate will bring both creativity and strong management skills to the role. Essential qualities: > 3–5 years’ experience in a senior kitchen management role within a busy, quality-driven environment. > Proven track record in developing and delivering innovative food concepts. > Strong leadership skills with experience managing and motivating a team. > Commercially astute with experience managing budgets, margins, and stock control. > Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – able to build strong relationships across teams and with guests. > Organised, reliable, and detail-oriented. > A proactive, “yes-can-do” mentality with a passion for excellence and guest care. Why Join Us? At Waverley Abbey, you’ll be part of a team committed to creating extraordinary hospitality experiences. This is more than a kitchen role – it’s a chance to shape a food offer that inspires, delights, and reflects our mission to serve guests with simple excellence, kindness and joy. If you are a driven Head Chef with creativity, vision, and leadership, we’d love to hear from you.