Sous Chef - Kensington, London

Sous Chef - Kensington, London

Start Date: Immediate

About Us

The Roof Gardens were originally created in the Art Deco period and opened in 1933. In the late 60's the building was taken over by fashion powerhouse Biba and was the pulse of Swinging London. 100ft high above Kensington High Street, set across 3 floors with over an acre of gardens, The Roof Gardens will be a next generation members club that is future-facing, committed to innovation and community, to discovery and to delight. The club will open in Spring/ Summer 2024 as a world-leading members’ club affording its community beautiful gardens, bars, restaurants and events spaces alongside a visionary cultural and music programme.

The Role - Sous Chef

We are looking for a Sous Chef to join the Walled Garden at The Roof Gardens. As a pivotal member of our senior kitchen team, you will be busy supporting the operation to ensure a truly brilliant experience for our members when they dine with us.

You will be responsible for working closely with the Head Chef to develop the concept, menus, service style and event options. Bringing your creative flair and strong leadership skills, you will at times be running the kitchen and should be happy to work under the exciting pressure that brings. You’ll get involved across the business with private and member events, pop ups (home and away), and lots more besides. There will be plenty to get your teeth into.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Ensuring the smooth running of the daily operations in your kitchen, supporting your Head Chef and covering his days off seamlessly
• Creating, tasting, testing (and briefing colleagues on) new dishes
• Ensuring the food preparation process is executed to very high standards
• Manning the pass, approving and finessing dishes before they are sent to table
• Making orders of equipment, supplies and ingredients
• Helping recruit, manage and train your team
• Building strong, positive relationships with your BOH and FOH colleagues
• Maintaining or beating budgeted GPs
• Ensuring hygiene and health and safety regulations are met or exceeded in your kitchen
• Building strong supplier relationships and working with the purchasing team to negotiate great pricing
• Working with the events teams to organise tastings, special menus etc
• Running pre-service briefings and tastings, training, supplier visits etc…to develop your team’s knowledge and help the FOH team sell your dishes confidently to the customers
• The skills and experience which will help you succeed in this role are:
• Creativity, flair and passion for your craft with a great eye for detail
• Being open to collaboration
• You will need to be an excellent communicator with great organisational skills
• You will possess a friendly demeanor and take genuine pleasure in supporting your colleagues
• You will be a natural leader capable of working under intense pressure at times
• At least 2 years’ proven Sous Chef experience in a similar business in the luxury market
• Aptitude for inventory/stock taking/payroll/ordering software systems
• A desire to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings
• Health and Safety training qualifications/accreditations

Your package will include:

• A competitive salary of £50,000
• 30 days holiday per annum with 1 extra day for your birthday
• A benefits platform through which you’ll have the option to buy more holiday, take out private healthcare and much more
• Cross-training plans and talent development initiatives
• A delicious meal with your team on every shift that you work with us
• Breakout spaces in our People Clubhouse where you can shower, change, securely leave your things and relax with colleagues between on your breaks
• Statutory pension contributions and much more!

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment.