Who We Are
The Wave is a place where people and nature come together - creating the right environment for people to thrive - our guests, our team, and our community. Our purpose is to nurture a world of health, hope and happiness with every wave. We’re driven by a spirit of innovation, purpose and possibility.
Our Values – We Are FAIR
Fun – We take fun seriously! We put smiles on faces.
Adventurous – We’re game changers, adaptable and explore with optimism.
Impact – We’re here to create a healthier connection between people and planet.
Respect – We care for each other, our customers and our community.
These values guide how we show up, how we make decisions, and how we work together - every day, in every role.
About the Role
As Chef Manager at The Wave, you’ll lead the kitchen operation, delivering high-quality food at pace while building a motivated, skilled and values-led team. You’ll balance hands-on leadership with commercial awareness, ensuring strong standards, great guest experiences and a positive working culture.
This is a fast-paced, people-focused role where you’ll work closely with the CM team and the Head of F&B to feed into food and team development and be part of a team that wants to continuously improve how the kitchen operates.
Key responsibilities include:
Kitchen Operations & Standards
* Lead the kitchen team day-to-day, acting as the senior figure within the department
* Deliver consistently high-quality food to spec, on time and at volume
* Ensure efficient service through strong prep, cook line organisation and leadership
* Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organisation and food safety
* Ensure production levels align with forecasts to minimise waste and maximise availability
People Leadership & Development
* Create a positive, inclusive and professional kitchen culture
* Train, develop and support your team, identifying skills gaps and development opportunities
* Act as a role model for The Wave values, behaviours and standards
* Support recruitment, onboarding and performance conversations
* Complete reviews, check-ins and support ongoing development
Commercial & Business Growth
* Manage stock, ordering and cost controls to meet margin and wastage targets
* Contribute menu ideas, product development and improvements to the food offer
* Champion brand standards including portion control, speed of service and consistency
* Support achievement of departmental KPIs including sales, margins and efficiency
Health, Safety & Compliance
* Champion food safety, hygiene and allergen compliance at all times
* Ensure COSHH, HACCP, SOPs and legal requirements are understood and followed
* Support audits and inspections, maintaining excellent compliance standards
* Work closely with Maintenance and F&B leadership to resolve issues promptly
About You
You’re a proactive, hands-on kitchen leader who thrives under pressure and enjoys developing people as much as delivering great food. You take pride in high standards and bring energy, ownership and professionalism to everything you do.
We’re looking for:
* Proven experience leading a kitchen team in a fast-paced environment
* Strong food safety, hygiene and operational knowledge
* A commercial mindset with attention to cost control and performance
* A positive, inclusive leadership style that builds trust and accountability
* Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards
* A mindset that aligns with The Wave’s FAIR values
You don’t need to be a surfer - but you should be excited about what we do.
Qualifications
* Relevant professional cookery or hospitality qualification (preferred)
* Level 3 Food Safety (or willingness to achieve)
* Strong working knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and kitchen compliance
What We Offer
We aim to create a workplace where people feel valued, energised and able to bring their best. At The Wave you’ll find:
* 30 days paid holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
* Free access to our staff surf sessions.
* Multiple discounts across our surf and other offerings.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We’re built on the idea that everyone should have the chance to experience the joy of surfing and the outdoors - and that starts with our own team. We’re committed to creating a place where people genuinely feel like they belong and be themselves.
We welcome different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and we work hard to make sure the right people are in the right roles, with the support they need to thrive.