At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead kitchen operations, train teams, and ensure high food standards.
- Company: Tigermilk, a vibrant restaurant group expanding in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Shape kitchen standards and build strong teams in a fast-growing brand.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in kitchens, 2+ years in leadership, and passion for team development.
- Other info: Join us in London and be part of our exciting expansion journey!
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ 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 are accelerating our expansion in the UK, with multiple openings planned across London and beyond — and we are 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 Are 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 in London employer: Tigermilk
Contact Detail:
Tigermilk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef / Kitchen Manager 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, arrange a trial shift at Tigermilk to show off your culinary prowess and how you lead a team in a high-energy environment.
✨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 openings or be able to put in a good word for you at Tigermilk.
✨Tip Number 3
Show us your passion for training! Prepare to discuss how you’ve developed kitchen teams in the past. We love candidates who can demonstrate their commitment to building strong, autonomous teams that deliver consistent quality.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to talk numbers! Understand food costs, portion control, and waste management. We want to see that you can maintain our high standards while keeping an eye on the bottom line. Make sure to highlight any experience you have in these areas during your discussions.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef / Kitchen Manager in London
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 high-energy kitchens and how you've developed teams to deliver consistent quality — we want to see your passion for Latin American cuisine!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: Make sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Talk about how you've trained and motivated kitchen teams in the past, and how you plan to build a positive culture at Tigermilk. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others!
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous roles; dive into the details! Mention specific achievements, like successful openings or improvements in food safety compliance. This helps us understand how you can contribute to our growth.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join the Tigermilk family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tigermilk
✨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 will show your passion for the brand and help you connect your experience to their values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully trained and developed kitchen teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you've built autonomy and consistency among your staff, as this is a core priority for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Compliance Knowledge
Brush up on UK hygiene and food safety standards, especially HACCP procedures. Be ready to discuss how you've maintained compliance in previous roles and how you plan to ensure Tigermilk's kitchens are audit-ready at all times.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in high-pressure situations. Think about past experiences where you had to manage kitchen operations during peak hours or handle unexpected challenges, and be prepared to share those stories.