Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team and ensure high-quality dishes are served.
- Company: Wagamama is a vibrant restaurant chain known for its fresh, Asian-inspired cuisine.
- Benefits: Enjoy bonuses, private medical insurance, free food, discounts, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Join a culture of continuous improvement and inclusivity while developing your culinary leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience as a head chef with strong communication and leadership skills required.
- Other info: Embrace the Wagamama Way, focusing on good change and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a head chef at Wagamama, you'll lead your kitchen team in the Wagamama way, embodying our people promise, values, and core leadership behaviours. You'll be responsible for ensuring that every dish served meets our high standards. You'll look after the development and growth of your team through inspiring leadership, ensuring they are engaged, motivated, and high performing.
Benefits include:
- Bonus scheme | up to £8,000 a year bonus opportunity
- Private medical insurance + pension scheme
- Dedicated 6-week training programme
- Dry-cleaned chef whites provided every shift
- £14 - £25 of free food allowance on every shift
- 50% discount at Wagamama + 30% off all other TRG brands with family and friends
- Internal progression opportunities | fully funded apprenticeship programmes to support your growth
- 28 days holiday
- Kintsugi wellness | access to counsellors, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym + leisure
- Family-friendly policy | 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for expectant or adopting parents
- Financial wellbeing support | access to salary-repaid loans for urgent financial needs
What we look for:
- An experienced head chef capable of leading a kitchen team through positive behaviours and actions to drive performance in a fast-paced + complex environment
- A strong communicator who fosters real conversations with consideration + care, ensuring your team feels heard + supported
- Experience in maintaining high standards in food, health, and safety
- Understanding of financial performance, including gross profit and stock control
- Ability to manage labour costs and adapt to changing demands
- Passionate about creating an inclusive environment where your team feels respected and that they belong
- A leader who inspires and engages their team to nourish and flourish in their roles and careers
The Wagamama Way:
Kaizen, meaning 'good change', is our core philosophy. It influences everything we do — from our food to our work practices, emphasizing freshness and continuous improvement. We are committed to championing change in our communities and for the planet. With over three decades of acting differently, we celebrate diversity and value personality over perfection. We welcome everyone and their unique stories, promising to support and build trust. We aim to create safe spaces for real conversations with open hearts and minds. All we ask is for you to dish up what makes you different.
designate head chef employer: Wagamama
Contact Detail:
Wagamama Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land designate head chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Wagamama way and their core values. Understanding their philosophy of Kaizen, which focuses on continuous improvement, will help you align your leadership style with their expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience in leading kitchen teams in fast-paced environments during your interactions. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully motivated and developed your team to achieve high performance.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your approach to maintaining high standards in food safety and quality. Be ready to share how you've implemented effective stock control and managed labour costs in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Emphasise your passion for creating an inclusive work environment. Be prepared to talk about how you've fostered a culture of respect and belonging within your teams, as this aligns closely with Wagamama's commitment to diversity.
We think you need these skills to ace designate head chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Wagamama Way: Familiarise yourself with Wagamama's core philosophy of Kaizen and their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Reflect this understanding in your application to show that you align with their values.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Emphasise your experience in leading kitchen teams, focusing on how you've inspired and developed your team members. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to foster a positive work environment.
Showcase Culinary Standards: Detail your experience in maintaining high food, health, and safety standards. Mention any relevant certifications or training that support your capability to uphold these standards in a fast-paced kitchen.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the head chef position at Wagamama. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your passion for food and leadership shines through.
How to prepare for a job interview at Wagamama
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a head chef, your ability to lead and inspire your team is crucial. Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past, focusing on how you motivated them and fostered a positive work environment.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Food Safety
Wagamama places a high emphasis on food safety and quality. Make sure to discuss your experience with maintaining high standards in food preparation and health regulations, and be ready to explain how you ensure compliance in a busy kitchen.
✨Understand Financial Performance
Familiarise yourself with key financial metrics relevant to kitchen management, such as gross profit and stock control. Be ready to discuss how you've managed costs effectively in previous roles and how you can contribute to Wagamama's financial success.
✨Embrace the Wagamama Way
Research the Wagamama philosophy of Kaizen and be prepared to discuss how you can embody this in your role. Share your thoughts on continuous improvement and how you can contribute to creating an inclusive and diverse kitchen environment.
