Head Chef - New Opening - Country Style Brasserie

Head Chef - New Opening - Country Style Brasserie

£50,000 + Bonus Schemes and Profit Shares

York

This is an exciting opportunity for a Head Chef to lead the reopening of a famous local building with a long standing reputation for amazing food. Now under new ownership, the venue is being fully renovated and given a new lease of life, creating a rare chance to shape the kitchen, menus and team from the very beginning.

The food direction will be classic country pub dining with a brasserie style feel, built around fresh produce, strong technique and dishes created in the best way possible. The menu will focus on elevated pub classics alongside tasting menus, with future plans to introduce open iron cast fires for cooking, bringing theatre, flavour and character into the food offering.

This role would suit a creative and commercially minded Head Chef who can bring flair to new menus while also leading the operational side of a launch. You will be responsible for building the kitchen team, training them ready for opening, putting strong systems in place and creating the consistency needed for long term success.

This role does not provide accommodation, so you must be able to reliably commute or relocate to the area. This role does not provide sponsorship, so to apply you will need a full British passport or the right to work in the UK.

You Will Need

• A confident kitchen leader with strong organisational and communication skills
• Passionate about fresh, seasonal cooking and quality country pub food
• Excited by the opportunity to shape a new food offering ahead of reopening
• Creative, with the ability to bring flair to classic pub dishes, brasserie style menus and tasting menus
• Experienced in managing food costs, GP, stock control and staffing costs
• Commercially aware, with the ability to work towards budgets, bonus schemes and profit share opportunities
• Comfortable building, leading, training and motivating a kitchen brigade from the beginning
• Able to balance classic pub authenticity with refined cooking and strong presentation
• Calm and consistent under pressure with a hands on approach
• Committed to maintaining high standards across food quality, hygiene and presentation

Responsibilities

• Leading all kitchen operations and setting the overall food direction ahead of reopening
• Creating and delivering seasonal menus that reflect quality, consistency and elevated pub classics
• Developing tasting menus, specials and future food concepts to drive guest interest
• Supporting plans for open iron cast fire cooking and a distinctive country pub dining experience
• Building, training and developing the kitchen team ready for opening
• Managing kitchen rotas, staffing levels and team development
• Overseeing food ordering, stock control, GP and supplier relationships
• Managing kitchen budgets and staffing costs to support business performance
• Maintaining excellent food safety, hygiene and compliance standards
• Working closely with ownership and senior management to support the wider reopening and long term growth plans