Overview
HEAD CHEF – PREMIUM FOOD PRODUCTION KITCHEN
Sydenham, South East London
£50,000–£55,000
45 hours per week | Mostly Monday–Friday | Daytime hours
Lead a High Growth Premium Food Kitchen
An exciting opportunity has opened for an experienced Head Chef to lead operations in a fast-growing premium food production kitchen based in South East London.
This is not a traditional restaurant role.
You will be joining an ambitious food business creating high-quality products for restaurants and hospitality clients, including:
- Premium sauces
- Starters
- Prepared vegetable products
- Tailored menu components
- Tailored food solutions
Working directly with an industry-leading founder and Michelin-star trained chef, you will play a key role in scaling a rapidly growing division with strong long-term progression opportunities.
The Role
As Head Chef, you will take ownership of the daily running of the kitchen and lead a team of 6.
You will be responsible for making sure all products are produced to an exceptional standard, delivered on time, and organised efficiently in a high-volume environment.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading day-to-day kitchen operations
- Managing production schedules and workflow
- Team leadership, rotas and training
- Ordering, stock management and waste control
- Maintaining premium food quality and consistency
- Improving systems, organisation and kitchen processes
- Supporting sampling and new product development
About you
You are a strong operational chef who combines high culinary standards with excellent organisation.
You enjoy building structure, leading teams, and taking real ownership.
You will likely have experience as a:
- Head Chef
- Production Head Chef
- Sous Chef
- Central Kitchen Manager
- Development Chef
- Catering Head Chef
- Food Production Manager (fine dining)
You must have:
- Strong chef background with restaurant experience
- Exposure to fine dining or premium food standards
- Experience in production, prep or catering kitchens
- High-volume food operation experience
- Leadership experience managing teams
- Excellent organisation and forward planning
- Hands-on, no-ego attitude
Ideal Personality
We are looking for someone who is:
- Highly organised
- Detail-focused
- Calm under pressure
- Solutions-driven
- Flexible and adaptable
- Team-oriented
- Proud of their work
This role suits someone who takes ownership, solves problems proactively, and wants to help build something special.
Why Join?
- Join an exciting high-growth food concept at an early stage
- Work directly with a Michelin-level culinary leader
- Real autonomy and influence over kitchen operations
- Daytime hours
- Predominantly Monday–Friday schedule
- Strong progression opportunities as the business grows
- Opportunity to shape systems, culture, and standards from the ground up
Job Tenure: Permanent
