Sous Chef

Join us as a Sous Chef – Pastry at CUT at 45 Park Lane, recognised as one of ‘The Sunday Times Top 10 Best Places to Work for’ in 2024, 2025 and 2026. CUT is the number 1 in the UK ‘World’s Best Steak Restaurant’ and number 10 in the world. We continually strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is part of our DNA, reflected in our values of passion, personality, respect, working together, and creativity.

When you join us as a Sous Chef – Pastry at CUT at 45 Park Lane, you will have a unique opportunity to excel in your field. You will learn from your fellow Legends and our award-winning learning academy to achieve the highest standards in craft, service, and leadership.

What you’ll do

• Supervise daily shift operations and assist in leading the pastry team, running service efficiently from preparation to plating.
• Assist senior chefs in developing, costing, and executing seasonal menus, patisserie concepts, and specialty desserts.
• Train, mentor, and develop junior chefs in fundamental pastry techniques and kitchen operations.
• Ensure immaculate presentation and consistency of all baked goods and plated desserts across all dining outlets and events.
• Manage mise en place, track inventory, assist with ordering, and minimise food waste.
• Enforce the highest standards of food hygiene, sanitation, and kitchen safety regulations.

The operational hours of work are shift-based and may be subjected to change. These currently set as: 6am – 3pm, 7am – 4pm, 2pm – 11pm, 3pm – 12am.

What you’ll bring

Essential Skills and Experience

• Pastry Techniques: Knowledge of pastry-making techniques, such as dough preparation, cake baking, and chocolate work.
• Food Safety: Understanding of food safety regulations (HACCP) and maintaining a clean working environment.
• Recipe Adherence: Ability to follow pastry recipes precisely and maintain consistency in taste and appearance.
• Attention to Detail: Ensure exact measurements, accurate portioning, and high standards of presentation.
• Time Management: Able to meet deadlines for baking and dessert preparation within service times.
• Basic Baking Equipment Use: Proficiency in using pastry and baking equipment like ovens, mixers, and piping tools.
• Physical Endurance: Able to stand for long hours and work in a fast-paced pastry kitchen.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with other kitchen staff to complete orders on time.
• Adaptability: Ability to switch between tasks quickly based on pastry kitchen needs during busy periods.

Preferred Skills

• Specialized Pastry Knowledge: Experience with specific types of pastries (e.g., tarts, macarons, or plated desserts).
• Decorating Skills: Ability to create visually appealing garnishes and dessert presentations using tools like piping bags, molds, or tempering chocolate.
• Menu Contribution: Experience in contributing to dessert or pastry menu creation.
• Creativity: Able to develop new dessert ideas or improve existing recipes.
• Dietary Adaptations: Knowledge of creating desserts that meet dietary needs (e.g., gluten-free, vegan, or sugar-free).
• Leadership Skills: Experience training or supervising junior pastry chefs.
• Organization: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and ingredients in an orderly manner.
• Flexible Work Hours: Willing to work during busy times, including weekends and holidays.

What you’ll get

• Complimentary Stays: Enjoy complimentary stays with breakfast at Dorchester Collection Hotels every year.
• Discounts: Get 50% off food and beverages at selected bars and restaurants within the Dorchester Collection.
• Employee Perks: Enrol from day 1 into the Royal London Private Pension scheme (we contribute 8% towards your pension); Benefit from Seasonal ticket loan, Rental deposit scheme, private financial advice, and Eye care vouchers.
• Training and Development: Advance in your career by accessing various apprenticeships from Level 2 to Hospitality Degree Level 5.
• Social Events: Participate in vibrant social events, including a summer party, winter ball, pub quizzes, and cultural and milestone recognition celebrations.
• Referral Bonus: Earn a £1000 bonus when you recommend a friend.
• Well-being Support: Access immediate well-being advice because we care about our employees.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. If you need us to do anything to support you during the recruitment process, please do call the People & Culture team on 02073197011 or email PeopleAndCultureLondon.UK@dorchestercollection.com so that we can discuss how we can support you through this process.