Sous Chef

Sous Chef - Luxury Spanish Restaurant
Maidenhead | Up to £35,000 + Tronc | £43-44k OTE | Head Chef Progression

LJ Recruitment is supporting a luxury Spanish restaurant in Maidenhead in the appointment of an ambitious and talented Sous Chef, with a genuine opportunity to progress to Head Chef within 6-12 months for the right person.

This is an exciting opportunity for a chef with fine dining, high-end restaurant or luxury hospitality experience who is ready to take the next step in their career and prove themselves at Head Chef level.

The restaurant offers modern Spanish cuisine in a stylish and vibrant setting, with a tapas-led menu focused on quality ingredients, flavour, presentation and consistency. With the ability to serve up to 450 covers on busy days, this is a high-volume operation requiring strong organisation, technical ability and confident leadership.

Spanish cuisine experience is desirable but not essential. The restaurant is open to chefs from fine dining, modern European, Mediterranean and other high-end backgrounds who have excellent culinary standards and a genuine interest in developing their knowledge of Spanish cuisine.

This role offers a clear progression pathway for an ambitious chef.

For the right person, there is an opportunity to move into the Head Chef position within 6-12 months, subject to performance, leadership ability and demonstrating the required standards.

You will work closely with the current Head Chef and gain valuable experience across kitchen leadership, menu development, food cost, stock control, ordering, team management and service operations.

• Support the Head Chef with the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Lead and motivate a brigade of 5-6 chefs
• Take responsibility for the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence
• Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, presentation and consistency
• Assist with menu development and seasonal dishes
• Manage preparation, service and kitchen organisation
• Support stock control, ordering and supplier management
• Maintain excellent food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety standards
• Ensure efficient service during high-volume periods of up to 450 covers
• Coach and develop junior members of the brigade
• Take increasing responsibility with a view to progressing to Head Chef within 6-12 months

We're looking for a chef with high standards, ambition and genuine leadership potential.

You will ideally have:

• Experience within fine dining, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels or premium hospitality
• Strong culinary foundations and excellent technical ability
• A genuine passion for ingredients, flavour and presentation
• Experience leading a kitchen brigade during demanding services
• A calm, organised and professional approach under pressure
• Strong communication and team leadership skills
• A hands-on approach and the ability to lead by example
• The ambition and ability to progress into a Head Chef position

Spanish or tapas experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

What matters most is your level of cooking, your standards, your leadership ability and your ambition to progress.

• Up to £35,000 basic salary
• £43,000-£44,000 OTE including Tronc
• Clear progression to Head Chef within 6-12 months for the right person
• Accommodation assistance available
• Five straight shifts per week, on a rota basis
• Opportunity to contribute to menu development and culinary direction
• Career progression within a growing restaurant group
• Opportunity to grow with a group currently operating two established sites, with a third opening next year

This isn't simply another Sous Chef position. It's an opportunity for an ambitious chef to join a quality-driven restaurant and work towards their first Head Chef position within a defined 6-12 month timeframe.

If you've built your career in fine dining, Michelin, Rosette, luxury hotels or high-end independent restaurants and you're ready to take the next step, we'd love to hear from you.

You don't necessarily need Spanish experience. You need high standards, strong technical ability, leadership potential and the ambition to become a Head Chef.

Apply now for a confidential conversation with LJ Recruitment and take the next step in your culinary career.