At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire culinary teams across multiple locations, ensuring exceptional food quality and operational excellence.
- Company: Join Big Easy, a renowned brand known for authentic American BBQ and vibrant dining experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, and benefits while shaping the future of our culinary direction.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence business performance and drive innovation in a growing company.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic hospitality environment and develop future culinary leaders.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in high-volume restaurants and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Big Easy is one of the UK's most recognised hospitality brands, known for authentic American BBQ, premium seafood, vibrant restaurants and exceptional guest experiences. We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Executive Head Chef to lead our culinary operation and support our restaurants across multiple locations. This is a senior leadership role for a passionate food professional who combines culinary excellence with strong business acumen, people leadership and operational expertise. You will play a key role in maintaining exceptional standards, developing kitchen teams and driving performance across the business.
The Role
- You will oversee kitchen operations across multiple sites, ensuring consistency, quality, profitability and compliance throughout the business.
- You will work closely with Head Chefs, General Managers and senior leadership to drive performance, support business growth and maintain the highest culinary standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, develop and inspire Head Chefs and kitchen management teams across multiple locations.
- Ensure exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation across all restaurants.
- Drive food cost, labour cost and productivity performance.
- Support operational projects, menu development and business growth initiatives.
- Build strong succession plans and develop future culinary talent.
- Conduct regular site visits, coaching sessions and operational audits.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, health and safety and company standards.
- Work collaboratively with Operations, Finance, Marketing and People teams to achieve business objectives.
- Analyse kitchen performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement and innovation while protecting the integrity of the Big Easy brand.
About You
- Proven experience as an Executive Head Chef, Executive Chef, Group Head Chef or Senior Multi-Site Head Chef.
- Strong background in high-volume restaurants, premium casual dining, BBQ, grill, smokehouse, steakhouse or seafood operations.
- Experience leading multiple kitchens and large culinary teams.
- Strong commercial awareness with a solid understanding of food cost control, labour management and P&L performance.
- Experience implementing standards, training programmes and operational improvements.
- Exceptional leadership, coaching and people development skills.
- Strong organisational, planning and project management skills.
- Flexible and willing to travel between locations as required.
- Passion for hospitality, innovation and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
Why Join Big Easy?
- Lead the culinary direction of an established hospitality brand.
- Work directly with senior leadership and influence business performance.
- Shape menus, standards, training and food innovation across multiple locations.
- Develop and mentor future culinary leaders.
- Competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.
- Genuine opportunity to make a significant impact within a growing business.
If you are an ambitious culinary leader looking for your next challenge within a dynamic hospitality business, we would love to hear from you.
Executive Head Chef employer: Big Easy Restaurants Limited
Big Easy Restaurants is an exceptional employer that offers a vibrant work culture and a genuine opportunity for culinary professionals to lead and innovate within a well-established brand. With competitive salaries, bonuses, and a strong focus on employee development, you will have the chance to mentor future culinary leaders while driving performance across multiple locations. Join us to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment where your passion for hospitality and excellence will be truly valued.
Contact Details:
Big Easy Restaurants Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, industry contacts, and even former colleagues. Attend culinary events or workshops to meet people who can help you land that Executive Head Chef role. Remember, it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you get the chance, organise a tasting session or a demo for potential employers. This is your time to shine and showcase your culinary excellence and creativity. Plus, it gives them a taste of what you can bring to their kitchen!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to restaurants you admire, even if they’re not hiring. Express your passion for their brand and how you can contribute to their culinary vision. You never know when an opportunity might arise!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of exciting opportunities waiting for talented chefs like you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Big Easy!
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for culinary arts shine through! Share your experiences and what drives you in the kitchen. We want to see that you're not just about the food, but also about creating memorable guest experiences.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As an Executive Head Chef, you'll be leading teams across multiple sites. Make sure to showcase your leadership style and any successful projects you've led. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and develop others, so don’t hold back!
Be Specific About Your Experience:Tailor your application to reflect your experience in high-volume restaurants and your understanding of food cost control. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've driven performance and improved profitability in previous roles. We love details!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the Big Easy family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Big Easy Restaurants Limited
✨Know Your Culinary Numbers
Brush up on your food cost control, labour management, and P&L performance. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed these aspects in previous roles, as this will show your commercial awareness and ability to drive profitability.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led and developed kitchen teams in the past. Highlight your coaching sessions, training programmes, and how you've inspired others to maintain high standards. This is crucial for a senior leadership role.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Innovation
Think about how you've driven continuous improvement and innovation in your previous kitchens. Be ready to share ideas for menu development or operational improvements that align with Big Easy's brand and values.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Prepare for scenarios related to maintaining quality across multiple sites or handling compliance issues, as these are key responsibilities in the role.
