At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead kitchen operations, train teams, and ensure high food standards.
- Company: Join Tigermilk, a vibrant restaurant group expanding in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Be part of an exciting expansion with opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Shape kitchen standards and build strong teams in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in kitchens, with leadership experience and a passion for training.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Head Chef / Kitchen Lead role at Tigermilk Group. Tigermilk is a fast-growing restaurant group with 12 locations across Europe — 10 in France, 1 in Belgium, and our newest opening in London. We bring Latin American–inspired cuisine and cocktails to life in vibrant, centrally located restaurants — 100% homemade, responsibly sourced, and built on strong brand identity and guest experience. We’re accelerating our expansion in the UK, with multiple openings planned across London and beyond — and we’re looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen teams, ensure flawless execution of our food standards, and build the training and operational structure needed to scale successfully. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in high-energy kitchens and is passionate about developing people, maintaining strict hygiene and compliance, and delivering consistent, high-quality Tigermilk food — every day, at every site.
The Role
As Head Chef / Kitchen Lead – UK, you will be responsible for delivering consistent, high-quality Tigermilk food standards in the UK. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will:
- Lead daily kitchen operations and execution during prep and service
- Train, develop, and structure kitchen teams to build autonomy and consistency
- Oversee recruitment and onboarding for kitchen hires
- Maintain strong hygiene, food safety, and compliance standards
- Support future openings through training and operational setup
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Deliver consistent food quality, taste, plating, and speed during every service
- Ensure strict compliance with technical sheets, recipes, and portion control (grammage)
- Maintain strong coordination with FOH/GM to ensure smooth service flow
Training & Team Development
- Build and run a structured training programme for cooks (onboarding, station training, assessments)
- Coach and upskill kitchen teams to reach consistent performance across stations
- Maintain clear training tools: SOPs, checklists, prep guides, plating references
People Management
- Lead and motivate teams through strong standards, discipline, and positive culture
- Support performance development through feedback, coaching, and structure
- Organise schedules and team planning in coordination with Operations
Recruitment Oversight
- Support and oversee kitchen recruitment: interviews, trial shifts, evaluation, selection
- Ensure onboarding is effective and team structure supports performance and retention
- Build a pipeline of talent to support new openings
Stock Discipline & Storage Organisation
- Maintain disciplined labelling, date control (prep/use-by), FIFO rotation, and organised storage
- Keep fridges/freezers/dry storage structured to support fast inventories and reduce waste
Hygiene, Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure the kitchen is UK food-safety compliant and EHO-ready at all times
- Enforce HACCP-based procedures, allergen controls, temperature checks, logs and traceability
- Maintain daily and weekly cleaning routines (opening/closing checklists, deep cleans)
- Train teams on hygiene behaviours, cross-contamination prevention, and allergen awareness
New Openings & Expansion
- Play a key role in pre-opening and launch phases: kitchen setup, training plans, test services
- Support future sites to embed strong standards from day one
- Be mobile to support openings and multi-site needs when required
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years in professional kitchens, with 2+ years in a leadership role (Sous Chef / Head Chef / Kitchen Manager)
- Experience in high-volume, fast-paced service environments
- Strong leadership with a genuine passion for training and developing teams
- Strong understanding of UK hygiene and food safety compliance (HACCP, allergens, logs)
- Highly structured, disciplined and consistent — you build systems, not just services
- New opening experience is a strong advantage
What Success Looks Like
- Consistent food quality and standards across services and teams
- Strong, autonomous kitchen teams with clear training structure
- A clean, organised, audit-ready kitchen every day
- Successful recruitment and onboarding to support growth
- Smooth and repeatable openings as Tigermilk expands in the UK
Why Join Tigermilk?
- Join a fast-growing European group launching and scaling in the UK
- Real opportunity to shape kitchen standards and build teams from the ground up
- High-energy restaurants with a strong brand identity and guest experience focus
- Career progression opportunities through growth and expansion
Location & Contract
- Location: London (Tottenham Court Road) with travel for openings
- Contract: Full-time, permanent
- Salary: competitive, based on experience
HEAD CHEF / KITCHEN LEAD (UK) in London employer: Tigermilk Group
Tigermilk Group is an exceptional employer for those passionate about culinary excellence and team development, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of London. With a commitment to high-quality, homemade Latin American cuisine, employees benefit from structured training programmes, opportunities for career progression, and the chance to shape kitchen standards in a fast-growing restaurant group. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values creativity, compliance, and a positive atmosphere, all while contributing to our exciting expansion across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HEAD CHEF / KITCHEN LEAD (UK) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty! When you’re applying for a Head Chef role, it’s all about showcasing your kitchen skills. If you can, visit the restaurant and chat with the team. Show them you’re passionate about their food and culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with other chefs and industry professionals on social media or at local events. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to demonstrate your skills! During interviews, be prepared to talk through your cooking techniques and even do a trial shift. This is your chance to shine and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Tigermilk family and ready to dive into this exciting opportunity.
We think you need these skills to ace HEAD CHEF / KITCHEN LEAD (UK) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for food and leadership shine through. We want to see how excited you are about bringing Latin American cuisine to life and leading a team in a high-energy kitchen!
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in professional kitchens, especially in leadership roles. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate their ability to maintain high standards and develop kitchen teams, so be specific about your achievements.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your skills and experiences at a glance. Remember, we appreciate a well-structured application!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with Tigermilk. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tigermilk Group
✨Know Your Tigermilk
Before the interview, dive deep into Tigermilk's brand identity and menu. Familiarise yourself with their Latin American-inspired dishes and the importance of homemade, responsibly sourced ingredients. This knowledge will show your genuine interest in the company and its values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully trained and developed kitchen teams in the past. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've built autonomy and consistency among your staff, as this is crucial for the Head Chef role.
✨Emphasise Hygiene and Compliance Knowledge
Given the importance of food safety and hygiene at Tigermilk, brush up on UK food safety regulations and HACCP procedures. Be prepared to discuss how you've maintained compliance in previous roles and how you plan to enforce these standards in a high-energy kitchen.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment. Think about challenges you've faced in previous kitchens, such as managing high-volume service or handling staff conflicts, and how you resolved them effectively.
