Lead Chef (6-Month Fixed-Term Contract) – Live-In Accommodation Provided
Contract Type: 6-month fixed-term
Accommodation: Live-in available (shared staff housing)
Salary: £35,000 per annum pro rata.
About Us
Wookey Hole is a magical place of caves, legends, and adventure for all ages. It's an experience millions of years in the making with plenty to do inside and out. Visitors enjoy vintage penny arcades, museums, adventure golf, soft play zones, and of course the famous, beautiful caves.
The Wookey Hole family includes the 58-room Wookey Hole Hotel and the Mendip View Lodges located on-site plus a popular holiday park – situated just a few miles from Wookey Hole.
What we're looking for
Wookey Hole Hotel is searching for an experienced, hands-on Chef, able to elevate its kitchen management, day-to-day operations and structure. We're looking for a seasoned Lead Chef to step in for six months, to bring structure, standards, and mentorship—and leave behind a capable kitchen team ready to deliver excellence.
Ready to lead and transform? If you thrive in a hands-on leadership role, love bringing structure and quality to a kitchen, and relish the idea of mentorship and short-term transformation projects, we want to hear from you.
Main duties of the post
* Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring consistent quality, compliance, and efficiency
* Implement and maintain food safety, HACCP, and health & safety protocols
* Review, establish, and refine kitchen systems - for example: stock control, portioning, ordering, scheduling, waste reduction, and deep cleaning processes
* Mentor and develop two junior chefs to independently uphold high standards
* Act as the kitchen's lead, modeling professionalism, teamwork, adaptability, and culinary integrity
* Work hands-on during service - this is leadership from the line, not just leadership from the office
* Collaborate with management to assess kitchen sustainability and readiness for future staffing decisions
What we need from you
Proven experience as a Head Chef, Lead Chef, or Senior Sous Chef - ideally in a hotel, contract catering, or similar fast-paced environment.
Strong track record in kitchen management, process implementation, and compliance (food safety/HACCP).
Excellent team-building skills - able to inspire and train incumbent kitchen team.
Highly organised, with an eye for detail and systems thinking.
Working flexibly across weekends and bank holidays.
Benefits include
6-month fixed-term contract, with a clear review point and the potential for extension based on outcomes.
Live-in accommodation provided if needed - shared staff housing included.
Competitive salary reflecting leadership expectations.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day off as standard.
Opportunity to shape and elevate kitchen standards within a short timeframe
The chance to mentor a team and leave a lasting impact on a developing kitchen
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 6 months
Pay: £35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company events
* Discounted or free food
* Employee discount
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Store discount
Work Location: In person