Head Chef

Job Title: Head Chef - Authentic Italian Restaurant

Location: Maidstone, Kent

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £30,000 (net) per year (depending on experience to start) + performance bonus

About Us:

Bella Mia is an authentic Italian restaurant dedicated to bringing the true flavors of Italy to Maidstone. We pride ourselves on using premium, fresh ingredients to craft traditional dishes, from scratch made pastas to regional specialties. We are looking for an inspiring, passionate Head Chef to lead our kitchen team, drive culinary excellence, and make our kitchen their own.

The Role:

As our Head Chef, you will take full operational control of the kitchen. You will lead, mentor, and motivate a dedicated back of house team while ensuring every plate meets our high standards of flavor, presentation, and consistency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage daily kitchen operations, maintaining an organized, smooth, and high energy service.
• Design and update seasonal menus featuring authentic Italian regional dishes.
• Source high quality ingredients and manage relationships with local and Italian specialty suppliers.
• Maintain strict control over food costs, stock management, and kitchen waste to maximize margins.
• Ensure absolute compliance with all health, safety, and food hygiene regulations.
• Train, mentor, and schedule the kitchen brigade to foster a positive, professional working environment.

Requirements (Essential):

• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of proven experience working as a Head Chef.
• Culinary Expertise: Deep knowledge and hands on experience with authentic Italian cooking techniques, flavor profiles, and ingredients (e.g., fresh pasta production, regional sauces, dough management).
• Leadership: Strong leadership, communication, and team building skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Business Acumen: Solid understanding of kitchen financial management, including menu engineering, GP calculation, and labor costing.
• Certifications: Valid 3 Food Safety Certificate.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary with a performance based bonus scheme.
• 28 days of paid annual leave.
• Clear opportunities for professional growth and development.

To Apply:

If you have the required Italian culinary experience and a passion for leading a kitchen team, please submit your up to date CV and a brief cover letter outlining your experience with Italian cuisine.