Sous Chef - Dakota Manchester Airport

We are seeking a creative Chef with strong leadership skills to join our Kitchen Team in the role of Sous Chef, with a planned start date of 18th May 2026.

PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supporting the Head Chef in the running of the Kitchen including leading a smooth and busy service.
• Carry out managerial responsibilities including holding interviews and trial shifts, holding appraisals, and performance management.
• Support in driving the commercial performance of the kitchen by writing rotas and managing holidays, helping to write costed menus in line with the desired GP, carrying out stock take, and placing orders.
• Prepare and cook dishes according to the specification as set out by the Head Chef. This pertains to all menus including a la carte, room service, breakfast, bar food, bar snacks, events, and guest amenities.
• Be committed to working wholeheartedly as part of the team, effectively and positively communicating with all members of the kitchen and front of house team.
• Have a passion and display a willingness to train junior Chefs and apprentices in an open working environment of ongoing improvement.
• Strictly adhere to Health & Safety and Food Hygiene legislation following best practice at all times and leading the team to do so consistently. Where assigned, write HACCP’s and oversee the completion of due diligence documentation to maintain our high food audit scores.
• Display a willingness to continuously learn and improve your skills as a professional Chef.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of 5 years professional cooking experience in a restaurant of a high calibre.
• A minimum of 3 years experience as a Junior Sous or above.
• Demonstrate effective leadership and communication skills which are in line with our positive and inclusive working environment.
• Trained and knowledgeable in food hygiene to level 2 or above, HACCP and allergens, although full training will be provided.
• Demonstrate a passion for quality food and preparation.
• Be hardworking and a team-player.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
• Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
• Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
• Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.

HOW TO GET HERE

Dakota Manchester Airport is at 7 Enterprise Way, Manchester, M90 4AD. Train: About a 10 minute walk from Manchester Airport station, with frequent direct services from Manchester Piccadilly and across the North West. Tram: Metrolink Blue Line runs from Victoria via Central Manchester to the airport main station (approximately 10 minute walk away). Bus: Bee Network routes (43, 103, 130, 199, 248, 288, 313, 368) serve the airport; some stop a few minutes from the hotel, others at the main station (approximately 10 minutes walk away). Car: No on-site team parking; public transport is recommended. Cycling: Good local routes; secure bike storage available at the team entrance.

WHAT WE OFFER

In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:

• FINANCIAL: Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota, bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor, additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment, meals on duty and uniforming.
• WELLBEING: Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers, support from our in-house Mental Health Champions, family-friendly flexible working options, participation in meaningful initiatives such as Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning and the Walk for Wellbeing, supporting causes that matter while connecting with colleagues.
• CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment, access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System, supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan, opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships.

Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.

ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasseries and upscale cocktail bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle with more in our pipeline. Dakota is synonymous with delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last five years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK, as well as being awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ employees. As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for four consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent.

APPLY

Please send us your up to date CV.