Head Sushi Chef

Head Sushi Chef The Opportunity Miokuru is looking for an experienced and passionate Head Sushi Chef to lead the sushi kitchen and play an important role in the continued development of the restaurant. Miokuru brings together Japanese technique and sushi craft with the quality and seasonality of British produce , creating a distinctive food offering that celebrates great ingredients and thoughtful cooking. This is a hands-on leadership role for a chef who cares deeply about Japanese food, exceptional produce and the details that make a dish memorable. You will take ownership of the sushi operation from preparation through service, while working closely with the General Manager and Founder to maintain standards, develop the menu and continually improve the guest experience. We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable working the counter during a busy service, developing their team, refining dishes and taking responsibility for the wider performance of the kitchen. Your Role As Head Sushi Chef, you will take overall responsibility for the sushi kitchen, ensuring that everything leaving the pass or counter is consistent, beautifully prepared and true to Miokuru's standards. You will: Lead the preparation and service of hand rolls, nigiri, sashimi and other sushi dishes, maintaining exceptional standards of taste, texture, presentation, portioning and timing. Work with the best of British and seasonal produce , using Japanese techniques to showcase the quality of the ingredients. Take ownership of sushi rice, ensuring it is prepared, seasoned and held correctly and consistently throughout service. Lead the receiving, preparation, breakdown and portioning of fish, making the most of each product while maintaining quality, yield and traceability. Maintain exceptional knife skills and set the standard for precision, consistency and safe working practices across the team. Work closely with the Founder and General Manager on menu development, new dishes, specials and the continued evolution of the sushi offering. Develop and refine recipes, ensuring dishes are properly tested, costed and documented before being introduced. Bring ideas and creativity to the kitchen while understanding the importance of consistency and delivering Miokuru's established style. Take ownership of the sushi counter during service, ensuring dishes are finished and dispatched at the right pace and to the right standard. Leadership & Team Development You will be the key leader within the sushi kitchen and will create a positive, professional and well-organised working environment. You will: Lead, motivate and develop the sushi team, setting clear expectations and leading by example. Organise daily preparation, allocate sections and ensure the team is ready for service. Coach chefs in sushi preparation, fish handling, knife skills, recipes and presentation. Support the development of junior chefs and identify opportunities for progression within the team. Build a strong deputy who can confidently maintain standards in your absence. Lead calmly and positively during busy services, supporting the team and stepping in wherever needed. Address performance or conduct issues fairly and promptly, working alongside the General Manager where appropriate. Create a kitchen culture built around respect, communication, consistency and pride in the food. Food Quality & Standards Quality is at the heart of the role. You will be responsible for ensuring that the product remains exceptional every day. This includes: Maintaining consistently high standards across sushi rice, fish, hand rolls, nigiri, sashimi and all supporting dishes. Working with seasonal British ingredients and understanding how their quality, seasonality and character can be best showcased through Japanese techniques. Checking the quality, freshness and condition of ingredients throughout the operation. Maximising fish yields and making considered use of cuts and by-products without compromising quality. Ensuring recipes, portions and presentation remain consistent across every service. Working with the team to identify areas where the product can be improved. Responding positively to guest and management feedback and using it to drive improvements. Kitchen Management Alongside the food, you will take ownership of the day-to-day running of the sushi kitchen. This will include: Planning daily preparation around bookings, forecasted covers, events and stock levels. Managing ordering and par levels to ensure the kitchen is well stocked without unnecessary waste. Monitoring food cost, yields, stock levels and waste, working with management to achieve agreed targets. Completing regular stock counts and maintaining accurate records. Checking deliveries and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. Ensuring equipment is clean, maintained and fit for purpose, escalating any issues promptly. Working with the General Manager on staffing levels and rotas to ensure the kitchen is appropriately resourced. Food Safety & Allergens You will take ownership of food safety within the sushi kitchen and ensure that the team consistently follows all relevant procedures. This includes: Maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness throughout the kitchen. Ensuring raw fish is received, stored, prepared and handled safely and correctly. Maintaining accurate temperature, traceability, cleaning and food safety records. Ensuring all ingredients are correctly labelled, dated and stored. Maintaining accurate recipe and allergen information. Communicating clearly with the front of house team regarding allergens, ingredients and any changes to dishes. Never making assumptions about allergen safety and always following the agreed procedure for guest requests. Ensuring the team is properly trained in food safety, allergen awareness and safe knife and equipment use. Working with the Wider Team The Head Sushi Chef will work closely with the General Manager, Founder and front of house team to ensure the restaurant operates as one team. You will be involved in: Private dining and events. Bespoke menus and special occasions. Menu tastings and new dish development. Working with seasonal British produce and developing ideas around new ingredients and availability. Managing service challenges and responding to guest feedback. Sharing ideas and recommendations with the management team. Supporting the wider restaurant wherever required. What We're Looking For We are looking for an experienced sushi chef who has the technical ability, leadership skills and passion to take ownership of the kitchen. You will ideally have: Strong experience within a high-quality Japanese or sushi-led restaurant. Proven experience at Senior Sushi Chef, Sous Chef, Head Chef or similar level. Excellent knowledge of sushi preparation, including hand rolls, nigiri and sashimi. Advanced fish preparation and knife skills. A strong understanding of sushi rice and the importance of precision and consistency. Experience leading and developing a kitchen team. Good knowledge of food safety, HACCP, raw fish handling and allergens. Experience with ordering, stock management, waste control and recipe costing. The ability to remain calm, organised and hands-on during busy services. A genuine passion for Japanese food, exceptional produce and a desire to continually improve and develop the offering. An appreciation for seasonality and the ability to work creatively with British ingredients. The Person You'll be a natural leader who is still happiest with a knife in your hand. You will have high standards without being difficult to work with, be confident enough to make decisions and open-minded enough to listen to others. You will care about the details, take ownership when things aren't right and enjoy bringing people with you. This is an opportunity for someone who wants more than simply running a sushi section. We are looking for a chef who wants to help shape the food, work creatively with exceptional British produce, develop a team and play a meaningful role in Miokuru's continued growth. TPBN1_UKCT