Head Chef
Busy Fresh Food Country Pub | East Devon
JWR is delighted to be working with a thriving and well-established country pub in East Devon, seeking an experienced and hands-on Head Chef to lead its busy kitchen operation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong kitchen leader who enjoys working with fresh food, managing high-volume service, and delivering a quality traditional pub offering. Carvery experience is essential, as the business is renowned for its popular and successful carvery operation alongside an extensive menu of classic pub favourites and seasonal specials.
Package
Salary up to £44,000 DOE
Performance-related bonus scheme
Shared tips
Live-in accommodation available
Company pension
Staff discounts
Free meals on duty
Free parking
Genuine autonomy within the kitchen
Stable and established business
The Role
As Head Chef, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, ensuring consistently high standards across all food offerings while maintaining strong financial and operational controls.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading and managing all kitchen operations
Delivering a high-quality fresh food menu and traditional carvery
Developing seasonal specials and menu ideas
Managing food costs, GP margins and stock control
Building strong relationships with suppliers
Recruiting, training and developing the kitchen team
Producing weekly rotas and managing labour costs
Maintaining all food safety, HACCP and health & safety procedures
Ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
Driving a positive and productive kitchen culture
Requirements
We are looking for a Head Chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment and leads from the front.
You will have:
Previous experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up
Proven experience within a busy fresh food kitchen
Essential carvery experience
Strong leadership and team development skills
Excellent organisational and time management abilities
Sound understanding of kitchen finances and cost controls
A passion for quality food and customer satisfaction
The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure
If you're an experienced kitchen leader looking for your next challenge within a busy and successful country pub operation, we'd love to hear from you.
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