At a Glance
- Tasks: Support kitchen teams, improve food quality, and enhance service during peak trading.
- Company: Join an award-winning pub group known for exceptional hospitality.
- Benefits: Enjoy paid breaks, discounts, and a supportive development programme.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth across beautiful locations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant kitchen environment while building strong team relationships.
- Qualifications: Experience in fast-paced kitchens and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
What makes the perfect pub? It’s great ales, delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the warm welcome from a team that’s at the heart of everything we do. The Inn Collection Group is a multi-award-winning pubs with rooms company, proudly located in some of the most outstanding destinations across the North of England and Wales. At ICG, we deliver exceptional hospitality by living and breathing our core values of respect, customer focused, warmth, and honesty, all with the goal of Making People Happy.
How we say thank you!
- Celebrate your birthday with an extra paid holiday.
- Build your future with support from our Lead-Inn development program.
- Take the time you need to rest and recharge; Paid Breaks are on us.
- Enjoy 50% off food at any of our Inns.
- Relax with a stay at any of our Inns during January, February, and March for just £1.
- Take advantage of the chance to explore our beautiful locations, with 1/3 off room bookings all year round.
- Experience a spontaneous trip away with £50 on same day bookings.
- It’s not just for you—your loved ones can enjoy 15% off bed and breakfast too!
- 24/7 confidential support is always there when you need it with our Employee Assistance Programme.
- Tronc (…that’s tips to me and you).
- Contribute to a company that gives back through our Give-inn back scheme.
- Join an award-winning team recognised as the Best Pub Employer at the Publican Awards.
This role is field-based across our inns throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and the Lake District, working closely with Head Chefs and kitchen teams to support operations, drive standards, and strengthen performance across each kitchen.
You’ll Fit Right Inn
As an Operations Chef, you’ll play a key role in supporting our inns through their busiest trading period of the year. This role is about pace, quality, standards, team confidence and commercial acumen. You will work alongside our Head Chefs and kitchen teams to strengthen kitchen performance, identify the gaps that slow service down, and coach teams to deliver consistently brilliant food.
Your responsibilities will include building strong relationships with Head Chefs and Sous Chefs through open communication, motivation, and support. You’ll occasionally work the pass during peak periods with your focus on building capability, improving standards and helping sites have a successful summer season.
You will bring heartfelt hospitality to life through great food, clean kitchens, strong team relationships and practical, commercially focused support. If you’re excited by the chance to make your mark, build winning teams, and help shape the future of our kitchens, we think you’ll fit right inn...
Your Responsibilities
- Team building: Build strong, open and positive relationships with Head Chefs and Sous Chefs, creating a team culture that is honest, fun, supportive and focused on succeeding together.
- Peak skills building: Work the pass during peak trading periods to identify skills gaps, mise en place gaps and operational gaps that impact speed, food quality and guest experience. Turn these observations into practical coaching and clear actions.
- Commercial performance: Help sites maximise summer trading by improving pace, quality, consistency and kitchen readiness, supporting teams to bank the cash during peak periods.
- Cost control: Implement purchase trackers immediately where needed, monitor overspend and coach Head Chefs and Sous Chefs on stronger purchasing discipline, stock management and commercial decision-making.
- Food quality: Coach teams to reduce excessive frozen stock holding, deplete frozen items appropriately and strengthen fresh food quality, availability and consistency across the region.
- Recruitment support: Support recruitment needs across the region, including CV screening, interviews and practical advice to help build stronger kitchen teams.
- Kitchen audits and clean kitchens: Complete regular kitchen audits to ensure cleanliness, food safety, compliance and company standards are being maintained. Where gaps are identified, provide follow-up coaching and clear improvement actions.
- Diary planning: Work to a signed-off weekly diary agreed with the Operations Manager and Operations Director. The diary should cover five days per week across a range of shifts and sites, ensuring activity is planned, purposeful and aligned to regional priorities.
- Clear reporting: Report into the Operations Manager, with a dotted line to the Area Director, sharing clear updates on progress, risks, actions and support required.
What Success Looks Like
- Head Chef and Sous Chef relationships are stronger, with more open communication and clearer accountability.
- Sites are better prepared for peak trading, with stronger mise en place, better pass control and improved service pace.
- Kitchen teams receive practical coaching that improves confidence, standards and consistency.
- Purchase trackers are in place and overspend is challenged, understood and coached quickly.
- Frozen stock levels are reduced and fresh food quality is strengthened.
- Kitchen audits are completed, gaps are followed up and standards improve week by week.
- The weekly diary is planned, signed off and focused on the sites and shifts where support will have the greatest impact.
- The role supports commercial delivery during summer trading without becoming shift cover.
About You
You are driven by great food, high standards and doing the basics brilliantly. You understand what a busy kitchen needs to deliver pace, quality and consistency at peak trading times. You build strong relationships with Head Chefs and Sous Chefs through open communication, trust, challenge and support. You are confident working the pass, reading a service and spotting the skills, mise en place and operational gaps that affect speed and quality. You are commercially aware and understand the link between purchasing, stock holding, waste, food quality and cash performance. You are calm under pressure, solutions-focused and able to coach in the moment without taking over. You are comfortable supporting recruitment activity, including CV screening and interviews where needed. You are based within a commutable distance of the North East, North Yorkshire & The Lake District and happy to travel regularly across the region. Your values align with ours.
Operations Chef in York employer: Dean Court
The Inn Collection Group is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises heartfelt hospitality and teamwork. With a focus on employee growth through the Lead-Inn development programme, generous benefits like paid breaks and discounts at our inns, and recognition as the Best Pub Employer, we create an environment where you can thrive while making a positive impact in some of the UK's most beautiful locations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Chef in York
✨Get a Taste of the Scene
Try visiting local eateries and asking if they have any full-time positions available. Many hospitality jobs aren’t advertised online, so popping in for a chat can give you an edge and show your enthusiasm!
✨Network at Food Festivals
Food festivals and culinary events are buzzing with industry connections. Attend these to meet restaurateurs and other food service pros; you never know who might be looking for their next star employee!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a short video showcasing your cooking or customer service flair. Post it on social media or even send it directly to places you want to work at, like Dean Court. It’s a fun way to stand out and demonstrate what you bring to the table!
✨Reach Out Directly to Dean Court
Don't be shy about reaching out to Dean Court directly through their website. Express your interest in available roles and attach your CV, showing your genuine eagerness to be part of their team. Personal touches can go a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Chef in York
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Experience:In the hospitality-food-service world, your experience is key! Make sure to highlight any previous roles you've had in restaurants, cafes, or catering. We want to see your customer service skills shine, so include specific examples where you went above and beyond for clients.
Certificates Matter:If you’ve got any relevant certifications, like food safety or bartender training, flaunt them! They can really set you apart from the crowd and show us your dedication to the industry. Just make sure to mention them clearly in your CV or cover letter!
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Take the time to write a personal cover letter that reflects your passion for hospitality. Share why you’re excited about Dean Court and how your skills can contribute to our team's success. We're after that genuine connection!
Highlight Your Team Spirit:In full-time roles, teamwork is everything! Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively in busy environments. Mention any experiences where you’ve effectively collaborated with colleagues or managed conflicts — it's just as important as your technical skills!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dean Court
✨Show Your People Skills
In hospitality, customer service is everything! Be ready to showcase examples of how you've engaged with customers positively. Maybe you turned a tough situation around or went that extra mile for a guest—let’s hear those stories!
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Expect some technical questions about food and drink, especially if you're applying for a kitchen or service role. Brush up on the menu items, including ingredients and any potential allergens. If you’ve got any favourite dishes or cocktails, have a little something prepared to discuss, too!
✨Demonstrate Your Team Spirit
Hospitality thrives on teamwork, so think of examples where you've worked well with others in a fast-paced environment. Be prepared to discuss what makes a great team member and how you contribute to a positive working vibe. They’re looking for that 'good fit!'
✨Get Ready for a Practical Test
In full-time food service roles, don’t be surprised if they want to see your skills in action. Whether it's serving a table or prepping a dish, be mentally prepared for a practical test during the interview. Practice makes perfect—a little dry run with friends could give you the edge!
