Senior Sous Chef in Oldmeldrum

Why join Meldrum House Hotel? We’re transforming and elevating every dining outlet across the Meldrum House estate, and this is your chance to be part of something exceptional from day one. We’re building a new, signature culinary identity, and we’re looking for Chefs at all levels who are ready to create, innovate, and shape the future with us. If you thrive on fresh challenges, love being hands‑on, and want to showcase your talent in a fast‑moving, ambitious environment, we want you on our team.

You will be responsible for supporting and assisting the Executive Chef in effectively managing the Kitchen, ensuring the correct storage, preparation, cooking, and presentation of food for all food and beverage outlets are adhered to according to Company standards.

The Role

As Senior Sous Chef, you will help deliver the culinary vision and execution across all dining outlets, including our signature restaurant, bar, dining domes, conference & banqueting, and golf catering. You will lead a talented brigade, champion innovation, and deliver consistently exceptional food quality, presentation, and service.

Specific Tasks

• Lead and develop the Kitchen team through teamwork, skill, initiative and communication and assume a leadership role during all periods of service.
• Assist with staff training, supervising all kitchen staff in the preparation, cooking and service of all dishes.
• Assist with the recruitment and selection of Kitchen staff, following the Monogram Collective Company Recruitment and Selection Process.
• Ensure wage costs are controlled in line with business levels through weekly forecasting.
• Ensure laundry is controlled within the kitchen.
• Be fully conversant with the food gross profit achieved and assist in achieving the budgeted food G.P.
• Ensure that the food hygiene regulations are always followed, ensuring that the food is stored and rotated on a daily basis to eliminate wastage.
• Check fridges and stocks daily and plan purchasing requirements in accordance with business demands.
• Assist with menu planning and creation.
• Assist with monitoring all cleaning activities to ensure that the departmental cleaning schedules are followed and kept to a high standard and that all cleaning materials and equipment are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and COSHH legislation.
• Comply with statutory and legal requirements for Hygiene, Health and Safety and other legislation, ensuring that members of the Kitchen Team are also aware of these requirements.
• Always ensure the security of equipment and food stocks.
• Responsible for the people management aspects of the role, including managing attendance, performance, H&S, completing reviews, 1-2-1’s, annual appraisals and training.
• Any other duties appropriate to the post.

About You

• Previous experience of working within a Kitchen of a 4 or 5 star hotel.
• Previous experience of devising and implementing menus.
• The ability to lead and motivate a team and conduct coaching sessions with staff, to increase their performance or confidence and the ability to conduct performance management sessions to improve the performance of staff members who are falling below standards.
• Can demonstrate an ability to deal with suppliers and visitors to the building in a professional manner.
• Experience as a Senior Chef de Partie / Junior Sous Chef.
• Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Can demonstrate experience of contributing towards menu development and implementation.
• Can demonstrate an awareness of current food trends.
• Can demonstrate experience of assisting with cost accounting / portion and stock control.
• Can demonstrate an awareness of the importance of minimising wastage.
• Can demonstrate experience of assisting with conducting monthly performance reviews / appraisals.
• Can demonstrate experience of assisting to conduct job selection interviews.
• Competent at writing professional letters and emails, compiling reports and data analysis.
• Can demonstrate a clear understanding of the need for confidentiality and good awareness of Health & Safety in the workplace.
• Can demonstrate the ability to conduct individual and group training sessions with staff on key skills required within their job role.
• Competent in using Microsoft Outlook - email & calendar, Excel & Word.

Please note: This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Candidates with existing Skilled Worker status granted before 22 July 2025 may still qualify. If this sounds like the next step in your culinary journey, click apply. We look forward to hearing from you.