About this role
As Head Chef you will be responsible for managing the kitchen at Rose Bakery in Dover Street Market. You will be working hand in hand with our Restaurant Manager to ensure the kitchen operates efficiently while consistently delivering exceptional food quality, outstanding customer experience and the highest standards of food safety and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
• Create innovative, seasonal and commercially successful bi-weekly menus, together with bespoke menus for events and special occasions.
• Ensure all chefs have tools, ingredients and knowledge to implement these menus
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing working environment.
• Manage kitchen operations, ensuring excellence in quality, consistency, and food presentation
• Plan and manage kitchen rotas to ensure appropriate staffing levels for daily trading, peak periods and events
• Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organisation and food safety throughout the kitchen, ensuring all cleaning schedules are completed.
• Manage the Kitchen Team rota ensuring that we are fully covered and have the correct resource for busy periods and events
• Implementing a structure that ensures that all food is prepared on time, and that food levels are sufficient for the day
• Oversee and manage food ordering, and stock control efficiently and sustainably
• Work closely with Front of House teams to ensure effective communication of menu changes, allergens, daily specials and operational priorities.
• Train, mentor, and develop junior chefs, fostering growth and creativity
• Regular staff meetings to discuss menu ideas, long-term projects, events and kitchen improvements
• Ensure all equipment is maintained, reporting repairs promptly and managing preventative maintenance where required.
Skills Required
• Previous experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within a high-quality restaurant or hospitality environment
• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience developing kitchen teams
• Strong eye for detail and organisational skills, someone who strives for a high level of accuracy within a rapidly changing environment
• Strong people manager with ability to lead the Kitchen Team
• Brings creativity, curiosity, and a genuine love for fresh, seasonal cooking
• Flexible attitude and ability to manage a varied workload
• Ability to identify problems and implement appropriate solutions proactively
• Food Hygiene & Safety Level 2
Attitude
• A highly motivated and competent individual able to converse with all levels both internally and externally (including producers and suppliers)
• A total self-starter able to set the standard by their own professionalism and attitude
• Knowledge and passion for seasonal products
• Interested in food trends, and an eye for detail within the Rose Bakery aesthetic
• Must have an exceptional level of kitchen experience, a real understanding and passion for food, and the importance of sourcing, provenance as well as seasonality
What We Offer
• 20 days holiday plus Bank Holidays, increasing with each year of service up to 5 additional days
• Up to 60% DSM Employee Discount
• 50% discount on all Rose Bakery food and drink
• Access to RetailTrust, our Employee Assistance Programme
• 24/7 Access to our VirtualGP service
• Cyclescheme and Eyecare Vouchers
Equal Opportunity
We celebrate the diversity of our workforce, which makes us unique, creative, and connected. As an equal opportunity employer, we ensure fair treatment for all candidates and employees. We welcome people from all walks of life and strive to make everyone feel they belong. We regularly review our recruitment and onboarding processes to be as inclusive as possible. We respect everyone’s stories and celebrate our differences