Head Chef / Kitchen Manager
Head Chef / Kitchen Manager

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager

Full-Time 40000 - 50000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead kitchen operations, train teams, and ensure high food standards.
  • Company: Fast-growing restaurant group with vibrant Latin American cuisine.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a dynamic work environment.
  • Why this job: Shape kitchen standards and build teams in a high-energy setting.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in kitchens, 2+ years in leadership, and strong food safety knowledge.
  • Other info: Join us in expanding across the UK with exciting new openings.

The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.

Launched in Paris in 2019, Tigermilk is a fast-growing restaurant group with 12 locations across Europe — 10 in France, 1 in Belgium, and our newest opening in London (Tottenham Court Road). 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. Now, 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.

Responsibilities

  • 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.

Kitchen Execution & Standards

  • 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 (Core Priority)

  • 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 (Qualifications)

  • 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) + travel for openings.
  • Contract: Full‑time, permanent.
  • Salary: Competitive, based on experience.

Application Details

  • Experience: Required
  • Languages: English – Advanced
  • Employment: Full‑time
  • Starting time: Immediate start!

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager employer: Tigermilk

Tigermilk is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of London, where you can lead and shape kitchen standards in a fast-growing restaurant group. With a strong focus on employee development, you'll have the opportunity to build and mentor high-performing teams while enjoying career progression as we expand across the UK. Join us for a rewarding experience in a dynamic environment that values creativity, quality, and a passion for Latin American cuisine.
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Contact Detail:

Tigermilk Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head Chef / Kitchen Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Get your hands dirty! When you’re applying for a Head Chef role, it’s all about showing off your kitchen skills. If you can, try to get some trial shifts or even a stage at the restaurant. This way, you can demonstrate your cooking prowess and how well you fit into their team.

✨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 the inside scoop on job openings or be able to put in a good word for you. Plus, it’s a great way to learn about the latest trends in the culinary world.

✨Tip Number 3

Show your passion for food! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your love for Latin American cuisine and your vision for the kitchen. Talk about your experience with training teams and maintaining high standards. Let them see that you’re not just looking for a job, but a place where you can make a real impact.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining Tigermilk and being part of our exciting expansion in the UK. Let’s make it happen!

We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef / Kitchen Manager

Leadership Skills
Training and Development
Hygiene and Food Safety Compliance
HACCP Knowledge
Recruitment and Onboarding
Kitchen Operations Management
Food Quality Control
Team Motivation
Structured Training Programmes
Stock Management
Organisational Skills
High-Volume Service Experience
Communication Skills
Adaptability to New Openings

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 in the kitchen and what drives you to create amazing dishes. We want to see that you're not just a chef, but someone who truly cares about the culinary experience.

Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've trained and developed kitchen staff in the past, and how you maintain a positive culture in high-pressure environments. We’re all about building strong teams!

Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous jobs; dive into the details! Mention specific achievements, like successful openings or improvements in food quality. This helps us understand how your background aligns with our needs at Tigermilk, especially as we expand in the UK.

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 it gets to the right people. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the Tigermilk family right from the start!

How to prepare for a job interview at Tigermilk

✨Know Your Cuisine

Make sure you’re well-versed in Latin American cuisine, as it’s the heart of Tigermilk's menu. Brush up on key dishes, ingredients, and cooking techniques that are essential to the role. Being able to discuss your culinary inspirations and how they align with the restaurant's vision will impress the interviewers.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you develop kitchen teams. Share specific examples of how you've trained staff, built a positive culture, and maintained high standards in previous roles. This is crucial for a Head Chef position, so be ready to demonstrate your passion for mentoring others.

✨Emphasise Hygiene and Compliance Knowledge

Since maintaining hygiene and food safety standards is a top priority, be prepared to discuss your experience with HACCP and UK food safety regulations. Bring examples of how you've implemented these practices in past kitchens to ensure compliance and safety.

✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions

Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in a high-pressure kitchen environment. Think about challenges you've faced, such as managing a busy service or handling staff conflicts, and how you resolved them. This will show your ability to thrive in fast-paced settings.

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager
Tigermilk
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