Head Chef in London

A bit about us. Grind is a coffee company that lives in London. Since opening Shoreditch Grind in 2011, we've expanded across London with cafés, coffee trucks and a state-of-the-art coffee roastery. Our cafes and coffee shops are the beating heart of Grind, they are where it all began. We're a bustling hub in the heart of London's most iconic places, known for serving our specialty coffee and renowned bottomless brunches. We think coffee can be a force for good. Whether it's through creating the UK's first compostable coffee pods, our plastic-free packaging or carbon-free shipping - we're on a mission to be the world's most sustainable coffee company. In 2023, we created our charity, the Better Coffee Foundation, to undo the damage done by the global coffee industry - in our first year, we recovered 43 million pods' worth of ocean-bound plastic.

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. (A combination of weekends and evening availability are a must).

Role responsibilities:

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

You’ll have:

• 12 months experience within a similar reputable establishment
• 2 years + of 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.
• Grind run a tronc scheme, which is managed by an independent tronc master. Tronc payments are variable and not guaranteed, this number is likely to fluctuate depending on site performance and individual eligibility.