Head Chef in Manchester

Grind is a coffee company that was born in London, and now lives in Manchester! Since opening Shoreditch Grind in 2011, we've expanded across the city with cafés, coffee shops, trucks, and a state-of-the-art coffee roastery. Now, we’ve opened our first location outside of London, in the centre of Manchester. Coffee is at the forefront of what we do and who we are. We are coffee specialists and have always aspired to deliver the best quality, service, and consistency of product at all our Grind locations. Each of our cafés has an incredible team serving speciality coffee, mixing cocktails, and cooking amazing food—all to the beat of a great playlist.

Now, we’re looking to build another all-star team for our very first café-restaurant in the heart of Manchester, in St Michael’s Square. Every team at every location is involved in our mission to use coffee as a force for good. Whether it’s through sourcing avocado peel straws and recycled material containers on site, creating the UK’s first home-compostable coffee pods, or using 100% plastic-free packaging, we want to be the world’s most sustainable coffee company. We set up our own charity, the Better Coffee Foundation®, to undo the damage caused by the global coffee industry by recovering ocean-bound plastic with every coffee pod, iced coffee can, and cup of coffee we sell.

A bit about the role. This is a great opportunity for an experienced Head Chef looking to join a fast-paced restaurant group. Our Grind locations offer all-day dining and focus on using fresh seasonal produce to develop a dynamic menu. As a Head Chef, you will be responsible for the operation of the kitchen and the Back of House team. Your role will be to ensure that the service, quality and consistency of food is upheld to Grind standards at all times. We expect that you will be able to proactively recruit, train and develop your team. Furthermore, you must be able to create and maintain a safe, clean working environment for all chefs and kitchen staff.

To be eligible for this position you must have experience of kitchen management and possess strong knowledge around food GPs, H&S, wage costs, stock control and training.

Role responsibilities:

• Oversee food expediting to ensure top-quality food and service are delivered to customers.
• Maintain timely food production and uphold high standards across all services and sections.
• Lead, manage and develop our already incredible kitchen team.
• Uphold a safe and clean working environment according to Health and Safety regulations.
• Ensure adequate staffing with qualified chefs for each kitchen section.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date staff files within the HR system.
• Proactively recruit kitchen team members following established company procedures.
• Prepare weekly rotas for the Back of House team based on business levels and budgets.
• Collaborate and effectively communicate with the Front of House Management team.
• Report complaints, incidents, accidents, and other irregularities to the Operations team and Manager on duty.
• Adapt and adjust working patterns as needed to meet operational demands.

You’ll have:

• Extensive experience within similar reputable establishments.
• Considerable management experience within a busy kitchen environment.
• Good communication skills to enable effective dialogue with colleagues and customers.
• Strong time-management and organisational skills.
• A positive attitude and leadership approach to motivate and encourage a team of aspiring chefs.
• Ability to maintain professionalism at all times, in both conduct and appearance.
• Strong initiative and ability to quickly problem-solve under pressure.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Grind is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or disability status. If there are any adjustments you need to help you bring your best self to an interview with us please let us know.

Benefits and Perks:

• NEST Pension: We offer a pension scheme to help you plan for your future.
• Stream: Take control of your finances with on-demand access to your earned wages, financial coaching, and more.
• Employee Loan: Access an interest‑free loan of up to £1,000 to help with unexpected expenses.
• Referral Bonus: Earn a bonus for bringing great talent to our team (£250 for employees, £450 for managers).
• Discounts online: Up to 40% off our retail line online.
• SpectrumLife: Access our confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.
• Crew Card: Enjoy 50% off all food and drinks, plus two free coffees a day at Grind locations.
• Friends & Family Discount: Share the love with discounts for your friends and family on our website and at our sites.
• Meals on Duty: Enjoy one staff meal on shifts over 4 hours, and two staff meals on shifts over 10 hours.
• Social Events: Join us for team social events to connect and have fun.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity: Enjoy enhanced maternity and paternity benefits once eligible.