Head Pizza Chef: Neapolitan Mastery & Growth

Pizza Pilgrims is landing in Wimbledon and we’re looking for a brilliant Head Chef to join the opening team. Someone who loves great pizza, great people, and fancies earning up to £60,000 while making people happier one pizza at a time.

14 years ago Thom & James drove a Piaggio ape Tuk Tuk all the way from Sicily to London on a 'Pizza Pilgrimage' to learn the secrets of perfect Italian pizza. They went on to set up a market stall in Soho with an oven in the back of the van before opening their first actual pizzeria on Dean Street. Nowadays we have over 20 award-winning pizzerias across the UK, we’ve got our own Pizza Academy where we run training workshops every day, and we’re also a BCORP - something we’re extremely proud about achieving. We pride ourselves on using the best ingredients from Naples including Caputo flour, fresh fior di latte, salsiccia e friarielle, to make the best Neapolitan pizza every day.

At Pizza Pilgrims, we aspire to create an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves, feel genuinely cared for and have equal opportunities for growth and progression. We are committed to building a diverse team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives; which creates proper happiness, just like our pizzas do!

We work hard because we think pizza makes people happier. As a Head Chef, you’ll be a specialist in creating the best Neapolitan pizzas, and for every guest to leave with a full belly, and already planning their next visit. You’ll also be accountable for:

• Recruitment, training, and succession planning.
• Health & safety compliance.
• Food quality auditing.
• Reporting.

Whilst skills are important, representing our values is just as important too. These shape our team culture.

• ‘Push Yourself’ because we believe learning new skills and coming out of your comfort zone will help us improve as a team.
• ‘Be Yourself’ means you can bring your own personality to work. Your hair colour is yours, not ours. We think tattoos are cool. And we love hearing about your interests outside of work.
• ‘Respect Others’ because everyone is welcome at Pilgrims and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where people feel they belong.
• ‘Enjoy Yourself’ because hospitality is an industry we love, and we want every Pilgrim to create happiness for each other and to have fun at work.

In our most recent ‘happiness survey’ (team feedback survey):

• Over 200 people said the thing they love most about working at Pilgrims is their team.
• Over 100 people said their favourite pizza perk was the amount of free pizza they get.
• Nearly 150 people said they love the culture, development opportunities and pizza quality at Pilgrims.

What's in it for you?

• Salary up to £46,500 + tronc + bonus.
• 45hr week over 5 days.
• Serious career development - We are opening 4 pizzerias this year & next.
• On top of the standard 28 days holiday, you will get an extra day for every year you work for us (up to 5 Years).
• After 5 years with us, you get a paid 4-week sabbatical on top of your 33 days holiday!
• 1 extra day holiday as “Happiness Day’ so you can do something that you love and makes you happy outside of work.
• Team trips to Naples & beyond to meet suppliers & try new pizzerias.
• A tasty bonus every time you refer a friend to join.
• Free food & espresso every day - whole menu available & also deals with other restaurants.
• 2 huge company-wide parties every year to celebrate Christmas and Ferragosto (We close all the pizzerias for these!).
• Free pizza when you visit any Pizza Pilgrims when you are not at work for you & up to 3 friends.

So, if you’ve got this far down the job advert, it might mean that we’re a perfect match. Click the apply button and one of the team will reach out to you soon. Ciao!