At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team, delivering high-quality food and fostering a positive culture.
- Company: Join The Wave, where people and nature thrive together in a fun, adventurous environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days paid holiday, free surf sessions, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your leadership skills in a fast-paced kitchen.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen leadership and a passion for high standards and teamwork.
- Other info: We celebrate diversity and create an inclusive workplace for everyone.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
The Wave is a place where people and nature come together - creating the right environment for people to thrive - our guests, our team, and our community. Our purpose is to nurture a world of health, hope and happiness with every wave. We’re driven by a spirit of innovation, purpose and possibility.
Our Values – We Are FAIR
- Fun – We take fun seriously! We put smiles on faces.
- Adventurous – We’re game changers, adaptable and explore with optimism.
- Impact – We’re here to create a healthier connection between people and planet.
- Respect – We care for each other, our customers and our community.
These values guide how we show up, how we make decisions, and how we work together - every day, in every role.
About the Role
As Chef Manager at The Wave, you’ll lead the kitchen operation, delivering high-quality food at pace while building a motivated, skilled and values-led team. You’ll balance hands-on leadership with commercial awareness, ensuring strong standards, great guest experiences and a positive working culture.
This is a fast-paced, people-focused role where you’ll work closely with the CM team and the Head of F&B to feed into food and team development and be part of a team that wants to continuously improve how the kitchen operates.
Key responsibilities include:
- Kitchen Operations & Standards
- Lead the kitchen team day-to-day, acting as the senior figure within the department
- Deliver consistently high-quality food to spec, on time and at volume
- Ensure efficient service through strong prep, cook line organisation and leadership
- Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organisation and food safety
- Ensure production levels align with forecasts to minimise waste and maximise availability
- People Leadership & Development
- Create a positive, inclusive and professional kitchen culture
- Train, develop and support your team, identifying skills gaps and development opportunities
- Act as a role model for The Wave values, behaviours and standards
- Support recruitment, onboarding and performance conversations
- Complete reviews, check-ins and support ongoing development
- Commercial & Business Growth
- Manage stock, ordering and cost controls to meet margin and wastage targets
- Contribute menu ideas, product development and improvements to the food offer
- Champion brand standards including portion control, speed of service and consistency
- Support achievement of departmental KPIs including sales, margins and efficiency
- Health, Safety & Compliance
- Champion food safety, hygiene and allergen compliance at all times
- Ensure COSHH, HACCP, SOPs and legal requirements are understood and followed
- Support audits and inspections, maintaining excellent compliance standards
- Work closely with Maintenance and F&B leadership to resolve issues promptly
About You
You’re a proactive, hands-on kitchen leader who thrives under pressure and enjoys developing people as much as delivering great food. You take pride in high standards and bring energy, ownership and professionalism to everything you do.
We’re looking for:
- Proven experience leading a kitchen team in a fast-paced environment
- Strong food safety, hygiene and operational knowledge
- A commercial mindset with attention to cost control and performance
- A positive, inclusive leadership style that builds trust and accountability
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards
- A mindset that aligns with The Wave’s FAIR values
You don’t need to be a surfer - but you should be excited about what we do.
Qualifications
- Relevant professional cookery or hospitality qualification (preferred)
- Level 3 Food Safety (or willingness to achieve)
- Strong working knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and kitchen compliance
What We Offer
We aim to create a workplace where people feel valued, energised and able to bring their best. At The Wave you’ll find:
- 30 days paid holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
- Free access to our staff surf sessions.
- Multiple discounts across our surf and other offerings.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We’re built on the idea that everyone should have the chance to experience the joy of surfing and the outdoors - and that starts with our own team. We’re committed to creating a place where people genuinely feel like they belong and be themselves. We welcome different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and we work hard to make sure the right people are in the right roles, with the support they need to thrive.
Chef Manager in Bristol employer: Sea Level Wave
Contact Detail:
Sea Level Wave Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before your interview. Check out their social media and website to see how they embody their values like fun and respect. This will help you connect with them during your chat!
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills and be ready to showcase your culinary creativity! Think about how you can contribute to menu ideas and improvements that align with The Wave's mission of health and happiness.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you build a positive kitchen culture. Share examples of how you've developed your team in the past, as this aligns perfectly with their focus on people leadership.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining The Wave family.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food and cooking shine through! Share your experiences and what drives you in the kitchen. We want to see that you're not just about the job, but about creating amazing culinary experiences.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Chef Manager, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership style in your application. Talk about how you've developed teams in the past and how you embody The Wave's values of fun, respect, and impact.
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don't just list your previous roles; dive into the details! Mention specific achievements, like how you improved kitchen efficiency or reduced waste. This will help us see how your experience aligns with our fast-paced environment.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on being part of The Wave family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sea Level Wave
✨Know Your Kitchen Operations
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of a Chef Manager, especially around kitchen operations and standards. Be ready to discuss how you would lead a team to deliver high-quality food consistently while maintaining cleanliness and safety standards.
✨Emphasise People Leadership
Highlight your experience in creating a positive and inclusive kitchen culture. Prepare examples of how you've trained and developed your team, and how you embody the values of respect and fun in your leadership style.
✨Show Your Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to talk about your approach to managing stock, ordering, and cost controls. Discuss how you can contribute to menu ideas and improvements that align with The Wave's goals for business growth and efficiency.
✨Align with The Wave’s Values
Make sure you understand The Wave's FAIR values and be ready to explain how your personal values align with theirs. Share specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your adventurous spirit and commitment to making a positive impact.