Sous Chef

Sous Chef

Full time – Permanent – 39k per year – 45hours week -5 days out of 7, including weekends, on rotation. Typical shifts are Monday to Friday or Sunday to Thursday, always with two consecutive days off and no split shifts.

The Role

We’re looking for an exceptional Sous Chef to support our Head Chef/ General Manager in leading a fast-paced, creative kitchen that delivers outstanding food to our Client and delivery catering clients.

This is a hands-on, high-energy role for someone with serious culinary talent, strong leadership skills, and a genuine passion for exceeding customer expectations. You’ll play a key role in ensuring smooth kitchen operations, maintaining the highest food quality and safety standards, and inspiring the kitchen team to perform at their best.

You’ll thrive in a busy central production kitchen environment, confidently juggling multiple priorities while remaining calm, organised, and solutions-focused.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership & Operations

• Support and deputise for the Head Chef as required

• Take responsibility for food production and execution in the Central Production Kitchen (CPU), client offices, and on-site event kitchens

• Open or close the kitchen as required, ensuring clear handovers

• Supervise Sunday kitchen operations and event kitchens when needed

Food Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain the highest standards of Health & Food Safety across all kitchen and BOH areas

• Ensure strict adherence to recipes, product specifications, allergen processes, and labelling

• Manage FIFO stock rotation and temperature, cleaning, and safety records via Alert 65

Stock, Ordering & Cost Control

• Manage day-to-day food ordering in line with budgets and financial targets

• Oversee food, beverage, disposables, cleaning materials, and smallwares stock levels

• Complete accurate monthly stock takes and submit on time

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships

Team Leadership & Development

• Train kitchen staff on new menus and procedures

• Motivate, develop, and performance-manage the kitchen team

• Promote a positive culture of teamwork, flexibility, and shared responsibility

• Lead by example, supporting kitchen porters and brigade as required

Menu Development & Planning

• Assist in menu development, recipe specifications, and dish costing

• Create and delegate production plans to maximise efficiency

• Anticipate trends and contribute profit-focused, cost-saving initiatives

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with operational teams on bespoke menus, allergens, and sourcing

• Communicate positively and professionally to deliver an exceptional customer experience

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Excellent culinary skills at Sous Chef level

• Strong leadership and people-management skills

• Outstanding communication skills and genuine passion for the brand

• Excellent organisation and time management

• Ability to perform under pressure with minimal supervision

• High attention to detail and commitment to food safety and allergen compliance

• Proactive, self-motivated, and punctual

• Physically fit and comfortable lifting heavy loads

Desirable

Experience working in or running a busy central production kitchen

What’s in for you?

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We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/1301/43045001/52784345/SU #Grazing

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!