UK remote
Head Chef - Live In Available
About this role
What's the opportunity? The King Rufus is a welcoming, family-friendly pub in Chandlers Ford, known for its vibrant atmosphere and fantastic range of pub favourites. From char-grilled skewers and Nashville burgers to hand-battered cod, vegetarian, vegan and non-gluten options, our menu offers plenty of choice for our guests. With around 40 tables inside and a further 50 outside, our beer garden and outdoor play area make us a popular destination for families, friends and visitors to the local area.
We also have a function room, giving guests the perfect space to celebrate special occasions. As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen, leading from the front and ensuring the team delivers consistently great food while keeping the operation organised, efficient and commercially successful. You'll be responsible for: Leading from the front: Be a hands-on leader who sets the standard, supports the team during busy services and creates a positive kitchen culture.
Managing an extensive menu: Maintain excellent food quality, consistency, presentation and portion control across a varied menu, catering to different tastes and dietary requirements. Developing your team: Coach, motivate and support your kitchen colleagues, helping them build their skills and confidence. Running a commercially successful kitchen: Take ownership of stock, ordering, waste, labour and food costs, using figures and reports to make informed decisions.
Keeping everything organised: Manage kitchen rotas, preparation and service to ensure the team is ready for busy periods across our indoor and outdoor dining areas. Maintaining high standards: Ensure food safety, allergen management and kitchen compliance are always a priority. Working collaboratively: Build a strong relationship with the General Manager and front-of-house team to deliver a brilliant guest experience and drive food sales.
What we're looking for We're ideally looking for someone with at least two years' experience as a Kitchen Manager , or equivalent experience leading a busy kitchen. A branded pub or restaurant background would be a real advantage, particularly if you've worked your way up through the kitchen and understand what it takes to build a strong team. You'll bring: Proven experience managing a busy kitchen and leading a team.