Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager Location: Fenwick, Newcastle City Centre Salary: £32,000–£34,000 per annum + tips Contract: Full-time, fixed-term (2 years) Hours: 40 hours per week Start Date: October 2026 – immediate start available About the Role An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Kitchen Manager to lead a brand-new bar and restaurant opening within Fenwick, Newcastle. The venue will bring an elevated fried chicken and burger concept to the city centre, offering a fast-paced environment focused on quality, consistency and great service. This is a hands-on role for a confident kitchen leader who enjoys being on the pass, leading from the front and delivering consistently high standards. You'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, overseeing service, managing stock and food costs, and developing a small team of chefs. With established recipes and standard operating procedures already in place, the focus is on excellent execution, team leadership and operational efficiency. The role offers 40 hours per week, with working hours aligned to store opening times. Later finishes apply from Thursday to Saturday, providing a more balanced working pattern than many traditional hospitality kitchen roles. Key Responsibilities Lead the kitchen during service, cooking on the line and ensuring food is delivered to specification. Manage daily kitchen operations, including preparation lists, service planning and team coordination. Follow established recipes and procedures to maintain consistent food quality, presentation and portion sizes. Take ownership of ordering, stock control, deliveries and stock counts. Monitor food costs and minimise waste through effective portion control and stock rotation. Report weekly on food costs, wastage and labour against agreed targets. Maintain accurate HACCP documentation, allergen controls and excellent food hygiene standards. Train, support and develop Line Chefs and Commis Chefs, setting clear expectations for performance, cleanliness and consistency. Assist with kitchen rota planning in line with forecast sales and business requirements. Work closely with the Bar Manager to ensure smooth, coordinated food and beverage service. Ensure kitchen equipment is maintained correctly and report faults or maintenance requirements promptly. About You We're looking for a motivated and organised kitchen professional with proven experience leading a busy kitchen line. You may currently be working as a Senior Line Chef, Junior Sous Chef or in a similar supervisory role, ready to take the next step in your career. You'll ideally have experience in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen, with a background in burgers, fried chicken or a similar food concept. You'll also bring: Strong leadership skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Experience with ordering, stock management, portion control and waste reduction. A good understanding of food cost management and reporting against targets. A commitment to delivering consistent food quality and following established recipes and procedures. The ability to train, motivate and support less experienced team members. Excellent knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP procedures and allergen management. A minimum Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate; Level 3 Food Safety is desirable. A reliable, hands-on approach and the ability to take ownership of kitchen operations. What's on Offer? £32,000–£34,000 annual salary, depending on experience. Additional tips. A full-time, 40-hour working week. A two-year fixed-term contract. The opportunity to lead a kitchen within an exciting new city-centre opening. A hands-on leadership role with established recipes and operating procedures. The chance to build, train and develop a small kitchen team. A working pattern aligned with retail opening hours, with later closes Thursday to Saturday. Apply Now If you're a confident kitchen leader who takes pride in food quality, team development and keeping a kitchen running efficiently, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to be part of an exciting new opening in Newcastle city centre. INDNC